Swarming is a natural process for bees. It occurs for various reasons. If it is not prevented or the bees are not caught on time, then the apiary is threatened with significant losses. You can avoid this trouble with the help of various preventive measures.
What is bee swarming?
Swarming is a natural process. In this case, part of the family with the uterus is separated, which is evidence of the ability of insects to reproduce. Bees establish a new colony, headed by the old uterus. Released the first swarm of the family called the mother.
There is also a subtle, called a secondary swarm. This phenomenon is observed when even after the first swarming (pervak) many bees remain in the hive. There may be several secondary swarms, but in each case the uterus leading the new swarm is infertile.
Swarming in an apiary can lead to losses, as some of the bees are lost. You can avoid such a nuisance with the help of preventive measures and the organization of artificial swarming.
If the process has already begun naturally, then the bees need to be caught. This technique will not only save you from losses, but also allow you to increase the number of insects, which means to get additional profit.
The tendency to swarm depends on the breed of bees and their nature. The insects are calmer and more peaceful, the less likely they are to swarm.
Reasons for swarming
Swarming is a natural reaction of bees to the successful operation of the hive. If we consider this process from the point of view of the causes that caused it, then it can be reproductive or a consequence of overpopulation of the hive.
Reproductive swarm is observed in the spring-summer period. At this time, the uterus is engaged in active egg laying, so drones appear in the hive. This indicates the approach of a swarm pore.
Before the start of active honey collection, when only an insignificant part of the bees collect pollen and nectar, and the larvae are smaller than the feeding bees, the uterus can no longer sow eggs, since all the frames are occupied. All this at the instinct level encourages bees to swarm.
Instinctively, bees begin to swarm when spring begins late. In this case, the young is already ready to collect nectar, but it has not yet been formed.
In most cases, swarming begins due to overpopulation of the hive. There may be several reasons for this need to arise:
- lack of space for nectar, which begins to accumulate in the nest;
- too large stocks of nectar or pollen, in this case there is no room for oviposition;
- lack of space for the club;
- passing through a nest of too dense stream of bees;
- poorly organized ventilation;
- the appearance of a large number of brood due to an unexpanded timely nest.
Signs of the start of swarming
The primary sign of swarming is the termination of the uterus oviposition. This happens abruptly. At the same time, the construction of honeycombs ceases, and nectar and pollen are collected in smaller quantities. You can confirm the preparation for swarming with a wax installed in the hive, when for 3 days it remains still not tightened.
The approaching swarm can also be judged by the fact that many bees no longer fly early in the morning to collect nectar and pollen. Instead, the insects become more restless, gather on the arrival board or under it.
To prepare for swarming, the bees begin to lay queen cells. They are necessary for the removal of new queens. After laying the mother liquor, the bees seal it on the eighth day. After a couple of days, the first swarm comes out.
The swarm begins with a strong hum and the departure of bees from the hive. First they gather on a nearby tree or fence. After a few hours, the swarm flies away in an unknown direction. This situation often takes novice beekeepers by surprise.
The accumulation of bees on a tree or fence during the first swarming is due to the fact that its head is an old uterus, which is not able to fly fast. It is she who sits near the hive, and a swarm attracted by her smell gathers around her. The whole swarm flies out of the hive within 5 minutes.
Roy continues to hang in one place for several hours. This time is needed by scout bees to find a place for a new hive. It is during this period that you can catch a swarm, since after their departure to a new place you can do practically nothing.
How to deal with the swarm that has begun?
Swarming can be fought, even if it has already begun. It is not always possible to return the bees that have already left the hive, but the progression of the process can be prevented.
In this case, it is necessary to build on the causes of the ongoing swarm:
- If there is no room for nectar, then you can solve the problem by adding new stores.
- In the absence of space for the laying of eggs by the uterus, it is necessary to remove honeycombs filled with honey, and put empty ones instead. The bees will begin to draw out the honeycombs, the uterus will lay eggs, and there will be more room for the club in the nest.
- If the bees do not have a place for the club, then they need to organize space under the nest. To do this, rack and pinion liners. You can also arrange space on the sides of the nest by installing dividing strips on the outside.
- When passing through the nest too dense flow of insects should organize the upper notches. They will provide additional access to the hive for bees collecting honey.
Swarming does not occur spontaneously. Bees are preparing for this process. The best way to prevent swarming is to reduce the queen's pheromone secretion. In this case, the family will have more understudings, that is, working bees laying eggs. Bees will begin to lay queen cells, and construction activity will be reduced.
If you plan to swarm bees, then you should remove the hives from the sun and provide increased ventilation. Bees need to organize an increased load so that they build a honeycomb.
When swarming, it is effective to separate the bees. To do this, in one family, mature individuals must be separated from the young. When nectar appears and honey collection begins, then you need to return the bees to the main family.
Swarm capture
In order to catch a swarm as quickly and efficiently as possible, one should begin to monitor the hive at the first signs of swarming. First, the uterus comes out of it, moving from the entrance through the entire flight board. At this stage, you can catch it with a cap and place it in a cage, which is placed in a swarm - a special trap. It is suspended in the place of the largest cluster of bees. The uterus attracts them with its smell, so all insects gradually gather in one place.
It is much more difficult to catch a swarm when the uterus could not be caught immediately. If the swarm settles down on a tree or under a roof, then you need to wait until all the insects have gathered in one place, bring the swarm under them and sharply shake them into it.
The task is complicated when the swarm has gathered in a place where it is impossible to shake it off. In this case, it is necessary to establish a swarm nearby and transfer the bees there manually. To do this, it is good to use a large spoon or a scoop of wood. The main thing is to transfer the uterus to the swarm, then the other bees will gradually move to it.
After collecting bees in a boar, it should be left in a cool place for several hours. This time is necessary for the insects to calm down. After that, you need to move the captured swarm into a hive with a pre-prepared nest.
For each kilogram of bees, 2 frames with a wax should be installed. In the center of the nest, you need to place an open brood ramp, which is taken from a healthy family. This avoids the gathering of bees.
If there is no trap at hand, and swarming has begun, then you can get by with the usual box. It is enough to put in it 2 frames with sushi and provide an attractive smell for bees. To do this, you can use Apira.
You can catch bees without the help of a trap. To do this, use the lower hive body. It is installed about 50 m from the apiary. Inside set 8 frames with sushi and rubbed with raw materials, attracting the smell of bees. This method is attractive due to its simplicity and the absence of the need for further relocation of captured bees.
Bee Swarming Prevention Methods
Fighting the swarm of bees is quite problematic, so you should take care of precautions in advance. If there are several prevention methods to prevent swarming.
Organization of a hive from several buildings
To prevent swarming, a large hive should be arranged for bees. It should include a second and third building so that the family can grow vertically in a natural way.
In addition to installing such a hive, it is necessary to occupy the bees with work. For this, it is necessary to ensure the timely installation of frames with honeycombs and wax. When the housing is filled with frames with feed and brood, you need to install an additional housing. Bees will take care of them, so they will not have time to dig.
Uterus replacement
To prevent swarming, the uterus needs to be changed regularly, without waiting for it to happen naturally. The uterus must be replaced when she is more than two years old or she is too weak.
Replacement of the uterus implies the organization of its withdrawal and the formation of a layer. The uterus can be removed by using swarm queen cells, fistulous queen cells or by artificial method.
Frame selection
This is necessary to balance the strength of families. Strong families need to be taken with sowing frames and delivered to weaker families.
This approach allows a weak family to gain strength in a bribe, while a strong family prevents swarming.
The preventive measure is also considered artificial swarming of bees.
Artificial swarming of bees: how and why to carry out?
Periodically in the apiary, it is necessary to produce tribal activity. It consists in the division of bee colonies, which is called artificial swarming. This technique allows you to increase the number of families in the apiary.
Artificial swarming is to separate from the main family part of the bees, brood and nest. After that, the separated bees hatch their uterus, which is the birth of a new family.
The process of artificial swarming should be as close as possible to those conditions that are created naturally. Tribal activity should be done at a time when bees usually begin to swarm instinctively.
The advantage of artificial swarming over the natural process is not only that the beekeeper can control it, but also in the behavior of the bees. When artificially separated from the main family, they maintain a working mood, which even rises. If swarming occurs naturally, then the bees can do nothing for several weeks.
There are several methods of artificial swarming - Taranov, Kostylev, Dernov, Demari, Simmins, Vitnitsky. They are also called anti-war.
Regardless of the method selected, the following rules must be followed:
- Select bees that are able to quickly remember their hive.
- Apply artificial swarming only to strong families.
- Do not divide the family before the main bribe. The optimal period for artificial swarming is a month before a bribe. This allows the bees to prepare well for wintering.
Taranov Method
Artificial swarming usually means precisely this technique. The following algorithm must be observed:
- Open the hive and treat the insects with smoke so that they collect honey in the goiter.
- Put in front of the notch of the board where you need to shake the uterus and heavy bees. All of them will gather under the board, from where they must be moved to the swarm and left overnight in a cool place.
- Destroy all queen cells and release the bees back to the hive.
- Provide enough work to avoid the emergence of new mother liquors.
Demari Method
This method allows you to expand the nest without stopping the egg laying. To do this, choose one of these options:
- Leave one frame with the uterus in the lower case with the brood open. Move the rest to the upper case and isolate. Instead, put a framework with wax.
- Move the young to the upper case, leaving the uterus with empty combs below.
- Remove the closed brood from the uterus, and leave the open with bees.
Kostylev's method
Artificial swarming in this case begins in the evening, after the return of the bulk of the insects to the hive. Next to it, you need to pre-install the boards on which the selected family is taken out. All mother liquors need to be removed. The brood is passed on to another family that was not about to breed.
In the hive, you need to place additional feed and print frames. Brood opened in another hive is returned in the morning, adding wax. Boards with a swarm family are put to the tap hole, and they come back. Since there is no closed brood and honey, the insects begin to grow larvae and collect nectar.
Dernov Method
This method is used if the mother liquors are already laid, but swarming should not be allowed. You can use the following options:
- Place all flying bees in an empty hive, and destroy the queen cells in the old one. Expand a new hive with a summer to the old one so that the bees return to the uterus.
- Destroy the old uterus and all the queen cells, leaving only one. Repeat these steps every 5 days until a new uterus appears.
Simmins Method
This technique is used when the hives consist of two buildings. It is necessary to act according to the following algorithm:
- Remove the entire family with the uterus and shake off before the notch of the lower case.
- Set in the lower case sushi and wax.
- To delimit the hulls with special lattices for the hive (Hahnemannian).
- Move all brood frames to the upper case.
When part of the family returns to the hive, then through the bars they will rise to the brood to care for him. The rest of the bees will begin to create waxes, and the uterus will sow the available frames.
Witnicki Method
This technique is the simplest and at the same time effective. To prevent swarming, it is necessary to load the bees with work. To do this, use empty cells, which divide the nest in half. Insects begin the structure of the wax and stop swarming.
Swarming of bees occurs naturally, but this phenomenon is undesirable in an apiary. It can be prevented with the help of prophylaxis or artificial swarming. If the natural process has already begun, then they catch insects into the swarm.