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Swarming: Difference between revisions
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Nordic bees exhibit swarming behavior and when they begin to swarm, it is very hard to stop. The most common way to handle a swarming colony, is the so-called controlled swarming method. This means that the bees will be able to perform their natural swarming behavior, but the beekeeper will be able to control the swarm’s location. The most common way to do this is to split the swarming colony so that the old queen from the swarming hive is placed into a new nucleus. The swarming hive will grow a new queen from either existing swarm queen cells or a newly bred queen cell. | Nordic bees exhibit swarming behavior and when they begin to swarm, it is very hard to stop. The most common way to handle a swarming colony, is the so-called controlled swarming method. This means that the bees will be able to perform their natural swarming behavior, but the beekeeper will be able to control the swarm’s location. The most common way to do this is to [[Splitting a hive|split the swarming colony]] so that the old queen from the swarming hive is placed into a new nucleus. The swarming hive will grow a new queen from either existing swarm queen cells or a newly bred queen cell. | ||
If all the new queens are continuously produced from swarm queen cells, this selection will lead to a high swarming tendency in all bee colonies in the course of a few years. As such, it is recommended that the new swarm cell queen should be changed to a bred queen later in summer. | If all the new queens are continuously produced from swarm queen cells, this selection will lead to a high swarming tendency in all bee colonies in the course of a few years. As such, it is recommended that the new swarm cell queen should be changed to a bred queen later in summer. | ||
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'''How to handle a caught swarm''' | '''How to handle a caught swarm''' | ||
Swarms, as whole colonies, can be calmed down with water spray. The process of catching a swarm into a swarm box can vary considerably depending on the location of the swarm. The caught swarm is usually kept in a cool and shady place overnight and placed into a new hive body the following evening. | Swarms, as whole colonies, can be calmed down with water spray. The process of catching a swarm into a swarm box can vary considerably depending on the location of the swarm. The caught swarm is usually kept in a cool and shady place overnight and placed into a new hive body the following evening. See [[catch swarm|here]] for more information and pictures. | ||
[[Category:Swarming]] | [[Category:Swarming]] | ||