39. Managing and Preventing Swarms :

Bee swam on trees

Managing and Preventing Swarms.

Swarming is a natural part of the honeybee reproductive cycle. It occurs when a colony becomes crowded or perceives that the current queen is aging or less effective. In response, the bees begin preparations to raise a new queen. The old queen then leaves the hive with roughly half the worker bees to find a new home. While swarming is a sign of a strong, healthy colony, it reduces the honey harvest and population of the original hive. It can cause concerns if the swarm settles in undesirable locations (e.g., roofs or trees in urban areas).

Understanding the reasons bees swarm is the first step in effective swarm prevention. Common triggers include

1. Overcrowding of the hive

2. Limited ventilation

3. Lack of foraging space

4. Reduced queen pheromone presence (indicating an aging queen)

To prevent swarming, proactive beekeeping practices are essential:

Providing ample space is crucial. Add additional brood boxes or honey supers before the hive becomes congested.

• Regular inspections (especially in spring) can help spot swarm cells—large queen cells typically located along the bottom of brood frames.

  
  

• Splitting the colony is an effective method. By creating a new hive from frames with brood, bees, and food from a strong colony, you relieve population pressure and simulate a natural swarm without losing bees.

  
  

• Replacing old queens every 2-3 years can help maintain strong pheromone levels and reduce the likelihood of swarm instincts. Marking queens with the colour of the year would be helpful.

Bee swam on a building

Despite your best efforts, swarming may still occur. If you spot a swarm resting on a tree or structure, it can often be captured safely. Use a bee box or nuc to collect the swarm, ideally by gently shaking the cluster into the container. Ensuring the queen is inside the key—the rest of the bees will follow. Once the swarm is inside, allow it to settle in a cool, dark place until it can be installed into a prepared hive.

Effective swarm management balances the bees' natural reproductive instincts with the beekeeper’s goals of hive productivity and safety. With attentiveness and timely intervention, swarming can often be prevented—or at least managed well.

How to manage swaming - video https://youtu.be/OX0020bLc9U?si=At-yCJwOVxjmjg3E Swam control, the Demaree method. Video https://youtu.be/bIVknx2kYdw?si=ItFxpOfSwhkalIqf