Late autumn swarms are an unexpected twist in the beekeeping world.

When bees decide to take off, even with winter just around the corner, beekeepers must be ready to act and must be prepared to understand that something went incredibly wrong with that colony.

Why Do Bees Swarm in Late Autumn?

Swarming is typically a spring and early summer event when the colony is thriving and resources are plentiful.

But sometimes, a late swarm occurs due to unexpected triggers within the hive, and none of them is a good sign.

Here are some possible explanations:

Overcrowding: If the colony has outgrown its space and there’s no room to expand, they might swarm despite the approaching cold.

Lack of resources: When bees assess their food resources they might conclude that there is not enough for them to pass the winter with their current population so in a desperate act, they try to go and find a better place with some available resources.

Varroa infestation: As we all know by now, Varroa is one of the main reasons for which bees are swarming at awkward times.

A nest with too many mites will become unbearable for bees and out of stress and desperation they might try to swarm away.

Intense Predator Attacks: Even if we are speaking about wasps or bee-eating birds, bees will try to run out the danger if the attacks are constant and harsh.

Challenges of Late Autumn Swarms

Unlike in spring, when a swarm can quickly establish a new home and build up stores, a late swarm faces several hurdles:

Limited Forage: With most flowers already gone and cold weather setting in, there’s little nectar or pollen available for a new colony to gather.

Time Constraints: Bees need time to build up enough honey and resources to survive the winter.

A late swarm often doesn’t have enough time to prepare and its chances of survival are really low.

Colony Survival: If a late swarm isn’t caught and given proper care, it’s unlikely to survive the winter on its own.