Swarming (honey bee)

"Abscond" redirects here. For a definition of that term, see the Wiktionary entry abscond.

Swarming is a honey bee colony's natural means of reproduction. In the process of swarming, a single colony splits into two or more distinct colonies.[1]

Swarming is mainly a spring phenomenon, usually within a two- or three-week period depending on the locale, but occasional swarms can happen throughout the producing season. Secondary afterswarms, or cast swarms may happen. Cast swarms are usually smaller and are accompanied by a virgin queen. Sometimes a beehive will swarm in succession until it is almost totally depleted of workers.[2][3]

A swarm of bees in Melbourne, Australia

One species of honey bee that participates in such swarming behavior is Apis cerana. The reproduction swarms of this species settle 20–30 m (66–98 ft) away from the natal nest for a few days and will then depart for a new nest site after getting information from scout bees. Scout bees search for suitable cavities in which to construct the swarm's home. Successful scouts will then come back and report the location of suitable nesting sites to the other bees.[4] Apis mellifera participates in a similar swarming process as they both evolved from the same ancestors. However, allopatric speciation forced them to evolve into different environments.

Swarming is prevalent in both rural and urban areas, the latter is due to issues such as inadequate beekeeping. When not properly managed bee swarms split off from their hive and find new homes in city infrastructure. This requires intervention by professional beekeepers to relocate them to a proper home.[5]

  1. ^ Miller, Peter. "Swarm Theory". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 19 May 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  2. ^ Villa, José D. (2004). "Swarming Behavior of Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Southeastern Louisiana". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 97 (1): 111–116. doi:10.1603/0013-8746(2004)097[0111:SBOHBH]2.0.CO;2.
  3. ^ Avitabile, A.; Morse, R. A.; Boch, R. (November 1975). "Swarming honey bees guided by pheromones". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 68 (6): 1079–1082. doi:10.1093/aesa/68.6.1079.
  4. ^ Seeley, Thomas D. The wisdom of the hive: the social physiology of honey bee colonies. Harvard University Press, 2009.
  5. ^ "Yes, bad beekeeping is to blame for unwanted urban swarms". The Guardian.