Swarming in Honey Bees
Swarming is the principal reproductive
mechanism in Apis mellifera colonies. It allows a single colony to
reproduce by dividing into two or more separate units. During a swarm, the old
queen leaves the parent hive with a substantial portion of the worker
population, while a new queen takes over in the original colony. This natural
process enables honey bee populations to expand their range and maintain
genetic diversity. Although essential for wild bee populations, swarming can
lead to productivity loss and operational challenges in managed apiaries.
Causes of Swarming
Swarming behavior is primarily
triggered by internal colony factors and environmental cues. One of the most
critical factors is brood nest congestion. As the colony population increases,
space within the brood chamber becomes limited. This congestion interferes with
the uniform distribution of queen mandibular pheromone (QMP), a chemical signal
that suppresses queen rearing. When QMP is no longer adequately circulated,
workers begin to raise new queens in preparation for colony division (Winston,
1987).
The age of the queen also plays a
crucial role. Older queens typically produce lower quantities of QMP,
increasing the likelihood of swarming. In addition, seasonal changes such as
increasing daylight hours, warm temperatures, and abundant nectar flow—particularly
during the post-rain bloom period—are strong environmental triggers. Genetic
predisposition is another contributing factor; some bee strains are naturally
more inclined to swarm, including Africanized bees, which swarm more frequently
than European strains (Page & Erickson, 1984).
Types of Swarming
Swarming manifests in several forms.
The most common is the primary swarm, which includes the old queen and up to
70% of the worker bees. This event typically occurs once queen cells have been
sealed in the hive. If more than one virgin queen hatches, secondary or
after-swarms may occur. These smaller swarms are led by virgin queens and can
continue until the hive population is depleted.
A related but distinct behavior is
absconding. Unlike swarming, which is reproductive, absconding involves the
complete abandonment of the hive by the entire colony, often due to stress,
disturbance, or poor environmental conditions. This behavior is more common in
tropical bees and is not considered part of the reproductive cycle (Hepburn
& Radloff, 1998).
Disadvantages of Swarming
From a beekeeping perspective,
swarming is generally undesirable. When a colony swarms, it loses a significant
portion of its workforce, weakening the parent hive and reducing its foraging
capacity. This leads to lower honey yields, particularly during peak nectar
flow. The new queen left behind may fail to emerge, mate properly, or survive,
which can result in colony collapse.
Moreover, swarms that escape capture
may establish feral colonies in unintended locations, creating management
issues and potentially introducing pests or diseases to local bee populations.
Frequent swarming also demands more labor and vigilance from the beekeeper
during inspection and control (Delaplane, 2007; Seeley, 2010).
Swarming Period in Baringo County, Kenya
In Kenya’s Baringo County, swarming
follows seasonal and climatic patterns influenced by rainfall and forage
availability. While peer-reviewed data specific to swarming months are limited,
studies and local observations suggest that swarming predominantly occurs
between August and October. This period corresponds to the post–long-rain
season, when floral resources become abundant and hive populations peak.
A study by Akala et al. (2019) in
Marigat and Ratat—both located within Baringo County—demonstrated that
rainfall-induced flowering significantly influences foraging behavior.
Increased foraging and nectar intake during this time are known triggers for reproductive
swarming. Additionally, regional harvesting trends show that honey production
peaks between September and December, supporting the conclusion that swarming
typically occurs just before this harvest window (Ngigi, 2013). These
observations provide a practical timeline for swarm monitoring and intervention
in the region.
Swarm Prevention and Management
Effective swarm prevention involves
creating conditions that discourage the colony from initiating queen rearing.
One of the most reliable methods is supering—adding additional hive boxes to
reduce brood nest congestion. This provides bees with more space to store honey
and raise brood, delaying the need to swarm.
Another approach is requeening. By
regularly replacing aging queens with young, vigorous queens, beekeepers can
maintain stronger pheromonal control and reduce the colony’s tendency to
initiate swarming. Colony splitting is also an effective method; it simulates
the swarming process in a controlled manner and reduces population pressure on
the original hive.
Finally, routine hive inspections are
essential during known swarming periods. The removal of uncapped queen cells
before they mature can interrupt the swarm cycle, though this method is only
effective if timed correctly (Winston, 1987; Delaplane, 2007).
References
Chat with us
