When people think of bees, they usually think of bee hives. In fact it’s very common for a customer to think they have a hive, but in reality they have a swarm. So what is a swarm and what does it look like? A swarm is a cluster of bees comprising of mostly worker bees, one queen, and a few drones. Take a look at the clip below. It’s a clip of a swarm that landed on a chain link fence. Notice there is no hive material. Instead the workers form a swarm cluster around the queen.
This Video shows an Example of a Swarm on a chain link fence
So what does a swarm do? A swarm is created when a portion of the inhabitants of an already established hive decide to break off and leave the colony. Their mission of a swarm is to build a new hive somewhere else.
Why do swarms leave an established hive? The main reason bees swarm is to guarantee survival of the species. It’s how they propagate and make more bees. One established hive left untouched can produce multiple queens who may leave and create multiple new hives. The more hives produced, the better chance for the survival of their species.
When do bees decide to swarm? Most hives produce swarms in the Spring and early Summer. This is when the spring flowers bloom and provide a new food source for the bees. In San Diego, due to our climate, we also experience a high number of fall season swarms. Often these swarms are the result of overcrowding in an existing hive. In San Diego, Argentinian Ants sometimes invade hives, which can cause bees to take flight.
What does it look like when bees start swarming? A swarm taking flight can be dazzling to look at. It can also look terrifying, depending on the individual. People who fear bees assume the bees are angry. Usually they are overwhelmed with the sight and sound of thousands of bees flying erratically in a frenzied state. But those who know about bees understand that what looks like a display of hostility is actually a display of joy. They are most likely just excited and happy to be moving to new home. Despite their appearance, bees flying in a swarm state are rarely aggressive (unless they are Africanized).
Take a a look at the video clip below. In the clip we remove the swarm on the chain link fence live using the Hive Savers Bee Vac.
