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Preventing bees from swarming is possible without much effort. To do this, you need to know the first signs of the beginning process and act immediately. Swarming affects almost every beekeeper. There are even anti-swarm measures in the apiary that can turn the growth of the family to the benefit.
Why do bees swarm
Swarming is the natural reproduction of insects. It is impossible to completely prevent the bees from swarming, because this is tantamount to destroying the apiary. It has been established among experts that swarming is a sign of the health and well-being of the family. However, sometimes bees are forced to leave their home due to negative environmental conditions.
The problem is that swarming is characterized by a lack of control, and subsequently it is difficult for insects to quickly recover from it. This directly affects the results of honey collection, anti-swarm techniques in beekeeping will help to cope with the phenomenon.
What happens to bees during swarming
In the spring, the bees rear brood, which allows them to prepare for the harvest and gain sufficient strength. The larvae at this time begin to take up too much space. Honey frames are increasing in number because they are required for pollen and nectar. The beekeeper enlarges the hive with wax and dry land.
However, there comes a time when there is no more room for laying new eggs. It is then that the bees stay in a swarm state.
During this period, the family is divided into 2 relatively equal groups. Flying swarms may contain insects of various ages. The majority are bees that have reached 24 days, but 7% of drones can fly away. The “outcome” of the swarm occurs 7 days after the laying of eggs by the uterus, the queen cells are still sealed at this moment.
The second swarm consists of queen larvae, brood and some of the adult bees. A week after the sealing of the larvae, a young queen is born, which leads the flight of bees on the 9th day. Such a flock can fly with an impressive wind.
A day later, the flight of the next swarm is possible. Each subsequent flock will contain an ever smaller number of individuals. At the end of the swarming stage, the remaining queens are destroyed. Then the drones and young queens mate and life returns to normal.
Anti-swarm methods of beekeeping
There are several popular ways to prevent bees from swarming. Each of them is effective in its own way. Beekeepers choose the most convenient individually. Methods developed by experienced beekeepers and named after them.
F. M. Kostylev’s method
It is performed in the evening after the completion of the flight by bees. The family in a state of swarming is moved to the gangway. They should be located away from the hive. The brood is planted with non-swarming bees, providing additional frames. Honey is completely removed.
In the morning, young individuals are returned. The lack of frames is made up for with foundation. The gangway is placed near the notch. Over time, the insects will return to their hive. Noticing the absence of honey, they will begin fruitful work.
Demari method
Used hives, consisting of 2 buildings. It is necessary to monitor the nests and expand them in a timely manner. Then the uterus does not stop laying eggs. She has enough space on the cells. The activity of the female is controlled by a lattice. It is installed in the lower tier.
Witvitsky method
In order not to have to take the bee family out of the swarm state, the insects are completely immersed in the work process. The nest is divided into 2 parts. Wax bed extensions and honeycombs without content are used. Bees, having found empty areas, begin to fill them. Under such conditions, insects quickly forget about swarming.
How to avoid swarming bees
Prevention of swarming in beekeeping should be started when the following signs are present:
- Reducing the laying of eggs by the queen bee. The process can also stop completely.
- Stop building new cells. The bees gnaw at the wax.
- The appearance of a large number of young animals in the family, not engaged in business. Usually such bees hang in clusters.
- Low productivity and low activity. Almost constant stay in the hive.
- The appearance of swarm queen cells. The number reaches 20 pieces.
The beekeeper needs to constantly monitor changes in the hive in order to carry out anti-swarm measures in a timely manner.
In order to prevent the onset of swarming, preventive anti-swarm methods are adopted in beekeeping:
- Elimination of tightness. The bee hive should be spacious and comfortable. If there is a need to expand the territory, then install the 2nd floor.
- The constant presence of brood. It is necessary to stimulate the uterus to lay eggs regularly.
- Additional fertilizing. It is carried out outside the season.
- overheat protection. Hives should be protected from direct sunlight in the summer.
clipping wings
The anti-swarm method was invented quite a long time ago and rechecked many times. If the beekeeper wants to prevent unnecessary migration of bees, he clips the queen’s wings. Also, using this method, you can find out her age. The operation is performed with scissors. It is enough to cut off a third of the wing so that the uterus cannot take off. In this case, the already prepared flock returns home.
The anti-swarm method was invented quite a long time ago and rechecked many times. If the beekeeper wants to prevent unnecessary migration of bees, he clips the queen’s wings. Also, using this method, you can find out her age. The operation is performed with scissors. It is enough to cut off a third of the wing so that the uterus cannot take off. In this case, the already prepared flock returns home.
Removal of printed brood
With multi-body hives, sealed brood can be moved to the top. The uterus and open brood remain below. The vacated space is filled with foundation and honeycombs. Such a rearrangement will eliminate the overpopulation of the bee colony. There is enough space for the queen to lay new eggs, and for the bees to collect nectar. After filling the upper part of the hive with honey, specialists install a magazine on it. Such anti-swarm methods are suitable for bees living in 12-frame hives.
Chess
The method was invented in Canada. To avoid unnecessary swarming, frames with sealed honey and frames with rebuilt combs are placed in a checkerboard pattern above the hive. In this case, the bee family will not be disturbed. Insects are misled and believe that the time of swarming has not come.
How to stop bees swarming
The hive in which swarming begins should be moved to a remote place, and another should be placed here. You need to add 8 new frames and wax on the sides to it. A couple of frames with sushi need to be filled with sweet syrup. A frame with insect eggs is placed in the central part of the hive. It is important to have time to make these manipulations before swarming begins.
On top of the new hive, plywood with a diaphragm is attached, in which a notch is made absolutely identical to the old one, so that the bees do not become disoriented. After that, the first hive is installed on the frame. The bees will calmly move to a new home and create fresh queen cells. In this case, the family will be divided, but swarming will not occur.
Closing the notch
If the hive is divided into bodies, then the frame with the queen is left intact, and the rest of the brood is moved to the upper level. It is important to install a grate between the housings. Next, you need to supplement the upper case with honeycombs.
The lower part is filled with honeycomb. The bees will be busy building a new foundation, not losing sight of the uterus. After a few weeks, the possibility of swarming will disappear, then it will be necessary to remove the dividing grid.
How to get bees out of a swarm
To combat swarming, use a step-by-step option:
- It is necessary to pull out 3 frames from a strong nest. They must have a brood and a queen.
- The frames are transplanted into a new hive.
- Finished combs (2 pcs.) are placed between the brood. 2 wax layers are placed along the edges.
- A new bee family is put in place of the old one.
- A young uterus is placed in a strong nest.
How to stop swarming bees if there are already queen cells
It is possible to remove bees from the swarm state in 2 variants in the presence of queen cells according to the method of M. A. Dernov.
The first method involves the landing of flying individuals at the location of the bees in the process of swarming. They are placed in an empty hive with frames. It is turned in the other direction from the old house. Insects begin to fly into the new hive. Queen cells get rid of the female and other remaining bees. When the anti-swarm method works, everything returns to its previous form. The flying insects will return.
The second option is to destroy the old uterus. All queen cells are cut out, leaving one. After 5 days continue to get rid of new ones. Next comes the withdrawal of the young uterus. So swarming is completely eliminated.
Conclusion
There are many ways to prevent bees from swarming. Experienced beekeepers have developed a number of methods to help stop the process at all stages of education. To facilitate the task, you should adhere to preventive measures and monitor the condition of the hives.
