What Should You Do If You Come Upon a Swarm of Bees?

Let us begin by providing some clarity. When we speak of swarming, we mean the final departure of a hive queen, followed by a large number of young workers and a few kelps. This phenomenon is entirely natural: it represents, in fact, the only possibility of reproduction of the hive 'superorganism'. The mechanism that drives swarming is very fascinating and makes us realise how well organised bee society is. Let us discover the fundamental processes together.

The hive reaches a point in its development when it feels the need to divide: one part leaves the family of origin to ccreate a new colony, while the other remains in the hive to raise a new queen to lay more eggs. The factors that cause the family to split are varied, some internal and others external in nature. Generally, the larger and stronger the family, the more it will develop a tendency to swarm, also because there will be a lack of space within the hive for further family development. The presence of an old queen can also favour swarming because the pheromones she releases are not sufficient and not perceived by all the bees, which, as a consequence, are activated to give birth to a new queen to carry on the colony's growth. In addition, climate, harvesting trends and hive position can also influence this.

The telltale signs that a family is about to swarm are recognised by the keen eye of the beekeeper: lots of drones and actual cells being built on the edges of the honeycomb are clear indications that one is entering the so-called 'swarming fever' phase. Not everyone, however, is lucky enough to be able to inspect a hive. Fortunately, there are signs that even the uninitiated can pick up on. For example, bees that are about to swarm gather on the outer step of the hive and form the famous 'beard', which owes its name to the typical cluster structure that bees adopt.

Once the mechanisms that lead to swarming are set in motion, it is quite complicated to prevent this phenomenon from occurring. Beekeepers put all their skill and dedication into avoiding losing their families. Unfortunately, they do not always succeed. Let us see together what happens in this case. Once it takes flight, the swarm usually settles on a branch or some other kind of support, although it may decide to settle on the ground. It stays there for a few hours or even days. Are they already building a new nest? No, at that moment the bees are still choosing where to settle permanently. The explorers are assiduously searching for the best place for the new family, often cavities in trees or among rocks. Each explorer shares with the others the location of the place it deems most suitable through the mechanism of the dance.

The world of bees is truly fascinating, but if in reality we were faced with a buzzing swarm of 10,000 to 30,000 bees, how should we behave First of all, one must be calm and avoid sudden movements. It is important to know that swarming bees have a docile disposition and are not particularly aggressive. Before swarming, in fact, they fill their honeydew sacs with supplies to provide for the swarm's needs and for this very reason it becomes impossible for them to sting, because to do so they would have to bend their abdomen, which is, however, full of food. They are, therefore, not particularly dangerous. Nevertheless, one must leave it to the experts who know how to handle them. Bees are also protected species and are not allowed to be killed.

If bees have just swarmed, they will probably be very close to the apiary from which they started. For this reason, it would be a good idea to contact the beekeeper directly, who will then be able to recover their escaped swarm. If, on the other hand, you do not know of any apiaries in the vicinity, you can contact any beekeeper, a beekeeping association or even 115, the emergency number of the Fire Brigade. They have a list of all beekeepers operating in the area and will be able to inform you of the need to recover a swarm.

If, on the other hand, one comes across a swarm that has already started nesting, then one must be much more careful. It is precisely at their nests that the bees become most aggressive: the guardian bees, in fact, patrol the entrance in order to ward off danger and defend the family. Again, it is advisable to remain calm, avoid sudden movements and get away as soon as possible. It will then be necessary to contact a beekeeper or the fire brigade so that they can recover the swarm. Never proceed with do-it-yourself methods or the use of toxic and insecticidal substances: leaving it to the experts is always the best solution.

The swarming period is very intense for beekeepers and looking after their bees can be very tiring. For this reason, 3Bee has come up with a beehive monitoring system that helps beekeepers to better manage their apiaries and have stronger, healthier bees. Facing the swarming period with an extra gear is just one of the advantages of using the Hive-Tech monitoring system! Discover all the features of these innovative products yourself! If, on the other hand, you are just a bee enthusiast and would like to learn more about these fantastic insects, adopt a 3Bee hive! In addition to the honey produced, you can remotely monitor the bees and their development!