Swarm Season Again!

 

Now that it looks as if Spring has come to stay, we're at the beginning of swarm season for honeybees.  Honey bees make new colonies by swarming.  About half of the worker bees and the old queen fly out of the hive to find a new place to live, leaving the remaining workers to raise a new queen.  The departing bees are a swarm, and they land somewhere, typically a tree branch or some other resting place, and form a clump or ball, where they will will stay for as little as fifteen minutes, or as long as three days.  While they are in this clump, scout bees go out looking for a new place to live, some suitable hollow or cavity where the swarm can take up residence and build a new colony. 

 If you see one of these swarms, don't panic.  They aren't looking to attack you, and in fact, are fairly docile, as they have no stores or brood to defend.  But the one thing you should do is call or text me immediately at 618-713-4101.  I will be over ASAP with a hive body to give the swarm the home that they are looking for.


By hiving the swarm, we are actually increasing their odds of survival.  Numbers vary, but only about 25% of wild colonies survive their first year.  While beekeepers lose colonies every year as well, the survival rate in an apiary tends to be much higher.  So do the bees a favor and let us know as soon as you see a swarm.  We - and the bees - will be very grateful.