SWARM CONTROL. 
GEO. S. DEMUTH, 
Apicultural Assistant, Bee-Culture Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. ’ ‘ Page. 
Succession of events in natural Natural swarming—Continued, 
apn ee is ES arte 3 Hiving natural swarms_______--_ 23 
Object of swarm control___---__-- 5 Prevention of afterswarms and dis- 
Factors influencing the tendency to position of the parent colony___ 25 
og ae ad Ry wee 6 Interruption of work in supers un- 
Influence of heredity_____--__----~- 7 I rade ai. a . i 2 
Influence of the hive and combs_- 7 eee on Suenipure cused: 
Size of the brood-chamber+____ 7 the new hive_—----__-_-_--- ie 
iuradiom anda hrocd:conpale 8 Contraction of the brood-cham- 
Space within the hive_________ 9 Se ea ; 
Venttation aaa. 9 Swanmins odt=2+5 aka bse 31 
<P a eg a Ee ee 10 Utilizing the parent colony for 
Influence of locality and season__~_ 11 production _______----_~------ 32 
Influence of character of spring Treatment to anticipate swarming__ 32 
ecndcienwine, we eea eee eG 11 Creating conditions comparable to 
Influence of young bees______-__ 13 ve Sa Ps tar ae 
Influence of honey-flow________ 14 Creating conditions camparable to 
Influence of work in supers____— 14 tie ee oo 
idence Gf idio. Acid bees 17 Radical changes unnecessary near 
Natural) swarming 2 te vyene) sss ss 19 A ae eo Saree ier ae 
Correction of congestion by swarm- pe ee ee 
st ae ce Se 19 Summarys See 2 at 45 
Influence of young queens______ 20 
Variation in time of swarming sea- 
son in relation to the honey- 
lth ae ate eS LS ee ee 21 
SUCCESSION OF EVENTS IN NATURAL SWARMING. 
COLONY OF BEES that is normal and prosperous increases 
its brood in the spring as its adult population increases, either 
until all the space available for brood-rearing is occupied or until 
the queen reaches the maximum of her capacity in egg laying. At 
first only worker-brood is reared; but as the colony increases in 
strength the rearing of drone-brood is begun, thus providing for 
male bees in anticipation of swarming. Finally, when the brood- 
nest becomes crowded with emerging and recently emerged young 
bees and the combs are well filled with brood, if nectar in sufficient 
quantity is available, several queencells are started and eggs are 
placed in them, this being the first definite preparation for swarm- 
ing. About nine days from the time the eggs are laid the queen 
larvee have developed to the point at which the queencells are sealed, 
and this is about the time the swarm usually issues. The exact time 
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