The honey bee is often viewed simply as an individual insect, but to truly understand its lifecycle, we must shift our perspective. A single honey bee cannot survive on its own; the true functioning organism is the entire colony.
The Colony as the Organism
Instead of focusing on the individual bee, the entire colony, or hive, must be viewed as the organism. Every bee—worker, drone, and queen—is a component that contributes to the survival and reproduction of the whole.
Swarming: The Natural Form of Hive Reproduction
The natural form of reproduction for a honey bee colony culminates in a process called swarming. This should not be viewed as a negative event for the bees, but rather as the hive's method of propagating its genetics and expanding its population.
The process of swarming begins when the original hive becomes crowded and resources are plentiful, signaling to the colony that it is robust enough to divide.
The process is generally as follows:
-
The colony raises a new queen.
-
The old queen leaves the hive with a significant percentage of the adult worker bees.
-
This departing group, or swarm, temporarily clusters at a nearby location while scout bees search for a suitable new home.
-
Once a location is agreed upon, the swarm flies to the new site to establish a new colony, which is a new organism.
-
The original hive remains with the newly raised queen to continue the cycle.
This division is the reason behind hive reproduction and is a normal part of the life cycle of the hive organism.
A Beekeeper's Perspective on Swarms
When found, a natural swarm represents an opportunity for beekeepers to acquire a new, healthy colony, which can be transferred into a managed hive and added to their apiary at a location like . It is a win-win scenario: the swarm is safely established, and the beekeeper expands their operation.
What to do if you find a swarm?
Nothing. A swarm is the natural way a colony reproduces. If you are allergic to bees, or simply don’t want a colony of bees setting up camp in your area, reach out to a local beekeeper. Nearly all beekeepers are on the lookout for swarms as a free way to add colonies to their business. A simple Google search will usually turn up some contact information for beekeepers in your area. You can also contact your local county extension service, chances are someone there will have a contact with a local beekeeper.