A swarm can be a blessing for regular humans to witness and a curse for beekeepers.
This marvelous spectacle is a sight once witnessed you can’t forget it.
Let’s take a look into how bees are guided during this phenomenon.
The Queen’s Pheromones: Nature’s GPS
The queen bee is the heart of the hive, and her pheromones are the chemical signals that keep the colony together.
These pheromones are powerful scents that the worker bees can detect from a distance.
During swarming, when half the colony leaves to find a new home, the queen’s pheromones act like a GPS, guiding the bees to her location and keeping them united.
The Swarming Process
Swarming occurs when a colony becomes overcrowded, and the bees need more space or for some other reasons we discussed here on this channel.
The old queen and a large group of worker bees leave the original hive in search of a new home.
Before they take off, the bees fill their stomachs with honey to prepare for the journey ahead.
As the bees leave the hive, they often gather in a temporary location while scout bees go out to find a suitable new home.
During this time, the queen’s pheromones ensure that the bees remain close by, clustering around her until the scouts return with news of a new location.
The Importance of Staying Together
In the chaos of a swarm, it’s easy for bees to get disoriented or separated.
But the queen’s pheromones act as a beacon, guiding them to her wherever she is.
This ensures that the bees don’t stray too far and that the colony stays united.
As long as they can detect her scent, they’ll remain close by, patiently waiting for the next step in their journey.
How Beekeepers Can Use This Knowledge
Understanding the role of pheromones during swarming can help beekeepers manage their hives more effectively.
If a swarm occurs, beekeepers can capture the queen or mimic her pheromones to lure the swarm into a new hive.
This technique although not very successful, can prevent the loss of a valuable swarm and help the beekeeper maintain control over the colony.
