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Keeping and breeding bees requires a competent approach. The result of improper care can be swarming bees in the fall. This process is accompanied by the relocation of a part of the bee colony to another dwelling. Most often, the swarm migrates due to lack of space with the growth of workers.
Why do bees fly away from the hive in autumn
Swarming is the sudden gathering of bees in the fall from their homes. Insects leave the hive in a crowd, together with the queen bee. In the former dwelling, the swarm leaves honey and printed brood. At first glance, there are no apparent reasons for the migration. But there are factors that can provoke swarming bees. These include:
- lack of space to store nectar as a result of overpopulation;
- overheating of the hive or draft;
- lack of honey plants near the hive;
- wrong choice of material for building a hive;
- aging of the uterus;
- death in honey stored for the winter period;
- unfavorable electromagnetic field for the swarm.
Sometimes beekeepers provoke swarming on purpose. This is necessary to increase the population of the species. But this process has a negative impact on the quality of the crop. In this case, the distance between the cells is reduced to 9 mm. At the same time, the swarm is fed with sugar syrup. But most often, beekeepers try to create favorable conditions for bees. This reduces the risk that they will start swarming.
Signs of the autumn gathering of bees
Beekeepers can predict the swarming process about 7-9 days before it starts. The following signs help:
- the formation of queen cells on honeycombs;
- increased buzzing in the hive;
- stop seeding brood;
- the presence of a large number of drone brood;
- concentration of worker bees on the hive board.
To make sure that swarming is possible, it is necessary to install a control frame in the hive, having previously divided it in half. Foundation should be partially stretched on the lower part. The top part should be empty. If the bees begin the process of filling the combs, then swarming is not worth waiting for. The appearance of drone brood and queen cells testifies to the negative development of events.
List of possible causes of swarming bees in autumn
In most cases, bees fly away from the nest in autumn due to incorrect actions of the beekeeper or changes in weather conditions. When the atmosphere in the dwelling becomes unfavorable for the further work of the swarm, he is forced to look for a more comfortable place for his stay. In some cases, the queen initiates the process of swarming, and the rest of the family rush after her.
Diseases of bees
In the autumn period, the swarm can become infected with an infection or virus. Most often, against the background of the disease, deformation of the wings is noted. The most common infection typical of bees is melanosis. It is able to provoke the death of the queen bee, which means the cessation of the breeding process of the swarm.
The causative agent of the disease is a fungus. Most often, it is concentrated in the epithelium of the oviduct, exerting a depressing effect on the process of laying eggs. The uterus becomes inactive, its abdomen increases in size. Ultimately, the swarm can push the sick queen bee out of the hive, where she finally dies. Another scenario is the beginning of swarming.
Seasonal tick activity
During the period from late summer to early autumn, the activity of varroa mites increases. They suppress the immunity of bees and spread dangerous diseases. To prevent swarming as a result of the destruction of the bee nest, preventive measures should be taken. To do this, after harvesting the last crop, the bee hive is treated with chemicals. Finding ticks is easy enough. They are located directly on the body of worker bees.
Violation of the schedule and feeding norms
Beekeepers often feed insects with sugar syrup. This has a positive effect on the quality of the crop. Excessive feeding leads to the fact that the younger generation does not have time to process it. For this reason, serious diseases develop that reduce the efficiency of the swarm. Therefore, it is important to dose the top dressing.
Old or diseased uterus
The queen is at the head of the bee swarm. She is responsible for laying eggs and rearing larvae. Its average life span is 5 years. But only in the first 2 years, egg laying is carried out at an accelerated pace. In the swarm queen liquor there are several cells in which future queens are laid. Over time, the reproductive function of the current queen bee decreases. For this reason, the defenses of the swarm are weakening. If the swarm does not have time to replace the queen with a young individual, the swarming process will begin.
Reduced bee activity
If the bees flew out of the hive in September, the reason may be their weakened state. In this case, the swarm is in search of a stronger family in order to maintain its population. The activity of the swarm can be affected by weather conditions, the ecological situation and the actions of the beekeeper. Often, the swarming process is provoked by nearby cell towers. If the swarm was weak initially, the beekeeper needs to combine it with another family. The creation of a new family is best done in the spring. This will help avoid swarming.
Frames with a bee swarm from a weak family are transplanted into a stronger hive. It is important to make sure that the bees adapt to the new smell and consider it their own. To do this, the hive is sprayed with a decoction of mint or lemon balm. Leaving the swarm in the same place is not worth it. It is advisable to change the location by putting some hay on the landing board. His representatives of the bee swarm will be used as a guide for the first time.
Poor quality honeycombs
Swarming bees in autumn may develop due to improper selection of material for the hive. The excessive smell of chemicals from the paint repels them. Therefore, it is necessary to pay increased attention to the selection of building materials. High quality is evidenced by even and correctly built honeycombs. The gap of the frame must be completely filled with them. If the honeycombs change their hue, they become unusable.
Increase in honeydew
Padyu is called the waste products of insects that feed on plant sap. It is a liquid with a sticky consistency and a sweet taste. Most often, aphids are involved in the production of honeydew. There is so much liquid that it starts to drip from the trees. That is why she was given that name.
In addition to nectar, a bee swarm can collect honeydew. This is typical for a dry period, when other sources of honey flow disappear. In large quantities, honeydew provokes poisoning. This phenomenon is called honeydew toxicosis of bees. It ends with the death of the working part of the swarm. Due to the gradual disintegration of the family, swarming begins in order to find the most favorable conditions.
What to do if the bees fly out of the hive in autumn
If the bees fly out of their homes in the fall, this process can be prevented by taking preventive measures in time. To do this, it is necessary to regularly monitor the behavior of the family in different life cycles. It is also worth approaching the construction of the hive with responsibility. It is important to give preference to quality materials and periodically check the dwelling of the bee swarm for the presence of honeydew.
During the period of increased activity of ticks, preventive treatment of the hive is carried out. This will help to avoid weakening the swarm due to disease. Do not overfeed the bees. If swarming is suspected, it is advisable to cut the diet several times. It is equally important to regularly check the surroundings for foreign odors. Because of them, the swarm can change its place of residence. If there are irritating factors around the nest, it is necessary to move the hive to another place.
If swarming cannot be prevented, special traps should be used. It is recommended to use large boxes for swarm trapping. To increase the chances of a successful result, you should place 2-3 traps at once. Inside the boxes you need to make ventilation holes and place frames with dry. The optimal quantity is from 5 to 8 pieces. Since the swarm in most cases stops on pines or spruce, traps must be hung on these trees. It is recommended to lubricate the boxes with special preparations or needles.
After the swarm is settled in the trap, it is transferred back to the hive. This must be done late in the evening, when all the bees finish their activities. Before transplanting a swarm, it is important to verify the presence of a queen.
Another effective way to prevent bees from swarming is to clip the wings of the queen. It is recommended to remove 1/3 of one wing. This will be enough to keep the swarm in place. This method does not affect the reproduction of the family.
Quiet changing of the uterus will help if it is carried out in advance. A bee swarm should be at the limit of its capabilities. The most suitable period for this procedure is from late April to early May. If measures are taken during this period, by the end of June there will be a complete change of queens. This will avoid autumn swarming.
Conclusion
The swarming of bees in autumn brings a lot of anxiety to beekeepers. But with the right approach, you can avoid swarm migration and preserve their ability to produce honey. The sooner signs of impending swarming are detected, the more likely it is to keep the swarm in full force.
