Understanding Honey Bee Swarms and Hive Establishment
Understanding honey bee swarms is important because swarming is a misunderstood occurrence that often leads to people extermination swarms because they feel threatened.
Swarming is a natural and often misunderstood phenomenon which marks a significant event in the life cycle of bees.
Swarming typically occurs in the spring and serves as a method of colony reproduction.
The old queen, along with about half of the worker bees, departs from the existing hive to establish a new home. This mass movement can be alarming to observe, as it involves thousands of bees flying together, forming what appears to be a drifting cloud.
Swarming begins when scout bees explore the surrounding areas for a suitable new nesting site.
Once a site is selected, the bees cluster around it, usually within close proximity to their original hive. Despite their intimidating appearance, these swarming bees are generally non-aggressive, as they do not have a hive to defend and are focused on protecting their queen.
European honey bees, common in regions like central and Northern California, exhibit extremely docile behavior during swarming.
They require significant provocation before displaying defensive actions. This contrasts with Africanized honey bees and food-deprived swarms, which can be unpredictable and more likely to attack.
Honey bee swarming is a natural and fascinating behavior, particularly significant as it marks the reproduction cycle and expansion of a bee colony.
When bees swarm, they are in the process of creating a new colony, following the division of their original hive. This division occurs when the colony becomes too large for its current space, or when it’s time for a new queen to take over.
The Swarming Process
- Preparation: Before the swarm leaves the original hive, scout bees will start searching for potential new nesting sites. These scouts will inspect various locations and evaluate them based on size, safety, and suitability. Meanwhile, in the hive, worker bees will stop feeding the old queen to slim her down for flight, and nurse bees will prepare to raise a new queen for the remaining colony.
- Departure: The swarm, consisting of the old queen and about 50-60% of the original colony’s worker bees, leaves the hive. This exodus can involve thousands of bees and creates a large, buzzing cloud as the bees fly together.
- Resting Phase: After leaving the hive, the swarm will often stop to rest within a short distance from their original location. This resting phase is where they cluster around the queen, usually hanging from a branch, under an overhang, or on a structure similar to the overhang of a roof. This rest allows the bees to regroup and gives the scouts time to finalize the decision on the new nesting site.
- Decision and Settlement: Scout bees communicate the locations of potential sites to the rest of the swarm through a series of dances. Once a consensus is reached, the entire swarm will fly to their new home and start building a new hive.
Why Bees Swarm to Rest
The resting phase of a swarm is critical.
During this time, the swarm is vulnerable and does not have the protection of a hive. They cluster together for safety and to maintain a connection with the queen while the scout bees finalize their search. The swarm does not intend to stay in this resting spot for long — it’s a temporary measure until they can move to a more permanent home.
It’s important to note that during this phase, bees are usually very docile; they have no young, honey, or hive to defend. They are more focused on protecting their queen and conserving energy for the journey to their new nesting site.
If you encounter a resting swarm, it’s best to keep a safe distance and avoid disturbing them. They are likely to move on within a few hours or days.
Bee Swarm Characteristics and Preferred Habitats
Swarming bees favor nesting in dark, enclosed spaces that are easily defended and at least 2,7m off the ground. Ideal locations include hollowed-out trees, but they can also choose man-made structures such as walls, chimneys, and utility boxes.
The scout bees play a crucial role in determining the new home’s location, and once consensus is reached, the swarm relocates to begin establishing a new colony.
Managing Bee Swarms and Established Hives
The presence of a bee swarm or established hive near human habitation necessitates careful management to avoid conflict and potential harm. While a moving swarm generally poses little threat and will likely move on its own, a hive established within a structure like a home requires professional removal.
For transient bee swarms, contacting a local beekeeper is often the best course of action.
Beekeepers can safely relocate the swarm without harming the bees. When dealing with bees that have started to establish a colony within a structure, the removal becomes more complex. It involves locating the nest, assessing the extent of the colony, and then deciding on the best method for removal, which may include sealing the bees within their new home to prevent further intrusion.
Preventive measures, such as sealing potential entry points and ensuring no suitable nesting spaces are available, are essential to deter future swarming and nesting within undesired locations.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Understanding honey bee behavior during swarming and the process of hive establishment can alleviate fears and enable proper response strategies.
While swarms can be daunting, they are a natural part of the honey bee lifecycle and essential for their survival.
If faced with a bee swarm or established hive, seeking assistance from professionals—whether beekeepers or pest control experts- is advisable to ensure safe and humane handling of the bees.
In summary, while honey bee swarms can initially cause alarm, understanding their behaviour and knowing how to properly manage them can lead to peaceful coexistence with these vital pollinators.
Taking proactive steps to prevent unwanted bee habitation in your surroundings will minimize potential conflicts and help maintain the health and safety of both humans and bees.
Registration and Management of Beekeepers:
The Control Measure relating to Honeybees, as amended by GN R1511 on 22 November 2019, requires all beekeepers to register annually through the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).
Beekeepers must keep detailed records of their beekeeping activities, properly mark their beehives, and manage their colonies responsibly to prevent and control bee diseases, such as the American Foul Brood, which is now considered a notifiable disease.
This control measure also mandates individuals who perform bee removal services to register annually with the Department of Agriculture, ensuring that they are qualified and responsible in their practices (SABIO).
Standards for Honey Products:
South Africa has regulations under the Agricultural Product Standards Act, specifically Regulation 835 of 2000, which outline the requirements for grading, packing, and marking honey and bee products intended for sale.
This regulation categorizes honey into different grades and sets standards for composition, quality, and ripeness. Additionally, honey is subject to labeling requirements under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act to ensure consumers are not misled by false or misleading descriptions (SABIO).
Biodiversity and Bee Forage:
The Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act and the National Environmental Management of Biodiversity Act are also pertinent to beekeeping in South Africa.
These acts aim to protect natural resources and biodiversity, which are essential for bees’ forage and habitat. Regulations under these acts address the control and management of invasive species and ensure the preservation of natural vegetation critical for bee survival (SABIO).
Municipal Regulations:
Several South African cities have specific by-laws regarding the keeping of bees within urban or municipal areas. These by-laws are designed to ensure that beekeeping practices do not pose risks to public safety and comply with health standards (SABIO).
Environmental and Health Challenges:
Bees in South Africa face numerous environmental and health challenges, including habitat loss, pesticides, pollution, climate change, and diseases.
The Western Cape Government, in collaboration with bee associations, is working on strategies to protect bee populations, focusing on bee forage, research, and industry regulations.
The public is encouraged to support bees by planting native flowers, buying locally produced honey, and avoiding pesticides (Western Cape Government).
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