The Heartland Bee Newsletter
April 2021 (7th edition)
Why Did These Bees Swarm?
Even the best beekeepers fail to prevent swarm events. Honey bees swarm for a large number of reasons, some of which science doesn't completely understand yet. It is known that the circulation of queen mandibular pheromone throughout the hive is measured and quantified by the bees, and if it is dispersed too weakly, the process of replacing the mature queen begins.
The most common cause of disproportionate queen mandibular pheromone is high colony population, which usually occurs alongside a nectar flow. However, that is far from the only reason for swarming events; it only explains why they are more common during bloom periods.
So did a colony swarm because of a sudden population explosion? It's a safe bet, in the spring, but not guaranteed. Colony inspection is the only surefire way to know, but a swarm typically occurs when the intended replacement queens' cells are capped, and capped queen cells should be treated delicately. Tread lightly when probing a hive that has swarmed within the past few days.
Typical swarm cells are found near the bottom of frames or comb, and are a sign of a thriving colony of bees preparing to reproduce. In these scenarios, capped honey can be found in the corners of brood frames. Resources should be plentiful.
Queen cells pulled from other areas imply supersedure, and are usually a response to an issue. The good news is that the bees are doing this for a reason. In the case of supersedure, the colony is righting itself--a solid brood break does wonders for the spread of pests and diseases within a hive. As long as they have enough pollen and nectar to carry them until the first of the new queen's brood emerges, they should be back up to snuff in no time.
About a month after a swarm, a mated queen or eggs should be found in the hive. Before then, however, they might swarm yet again. Fret not--sometimes, workers will accompany a virgin queen as she leaves on a mating flight. It is thought that this serves to disperse scent to help guide her back to her colony, while also disguising her from predators, similar to a shoal of fish.
Florida beekeepers should keep an eye out for one last type of swarm: usurpation by apis scutellata, or Africanized honey bees. It is documented that apis scutellata swarms will invade a virgin queen's hive, slaughter her and any workers that put up a fight, and take over. This event may be mistaken for aggressive robbing.
Swarming will be a topic of discussion for beekeepers into perpetuity, but the practice of maintaining swarm traps will make the conversation less regretful.
For more information, see:
Swarm Control for Managed Beehives
Swarm Trapping for Pest Control Operators
