Very typically in May, a colony may swarm because the colony has outgrown it’s hive and needs to split to survive. Prior to swarming the nurse bees will slim down the queen in preparation for flight. Approximately half the colony will leave the hive with the old queen. The remaining bees will stay in the hive with queen cells which encases a developing new queen in pupal form.
How does swarming work?
1. The swarm of bees cluster around the queen in the centre.
As the bees have feasted before leaving their hive they are usually calm with their sole intent being to protect the queen.
Scout bees search for a new location while the majority remain tightly grouped together until they return.
2. Beekeepers may collect a swarm in a cardboard box.
3. Remaining bees enter via a flap into the box.
4. Once the swarm has been collected they often walk up a ramp into the hive without assistance.
5. Swarm entering the hive
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