Swarming nature's gift
The swarming season is a vibrant and unpredictable time of year for beekeepers as spring arrives, bringing longer days and warmer temperatures. Colonies are busy during this time, and many people may become frustrated when they see a swarm or notice warning indications of swarming. Since swarming can give the impression that the hive is "breaking apart" or that something is amiss, many beekeepers have been trained to view it as something that should be avoided at all costs. In commercial or urban beekeeping, where space and safety are top concerns, methods such as splitting or the Demaree method are commonly employed to try to prevent colonies from swarming. The thing that's frequently forgotten, though, is that swarming isn't an indication of failure. It's a vital, natural process that shows how healthy and alive a colony is. We must examine what swarming actually is and what it means in a honeybee colony's life in order to comprehend why...