Understanding the Differences Between Swarming and Absconding
The abrupt disappearance of a hive can be very perplexing and occasionally distressing for many novice beekeepers. What distinguishes swarming from absconding is one frequently asked question. Although bees leave their hive in both cases, the reasons behind these behaviors and the implications for hive management and health are very different. A honey bee colony's natural life cycle includes swarming, which typically takes place in the spring or early summer. In essence, it is how bees procreate and spread their range. A significant portion of the worker bees, the old queen, and occasionally a recently emerged queen depart the hive together during swarming and gather close by, frequently dangling from a tree branch or other object. The original hive splits into two or more groups as a result of this process. While the new swarm establishes a new colony elsewhere, the remaining bees continue to tend to the resources and brood. Beekeepers freque...