68 Beekeeping 



has been suggested. At any rate, the modern practice is 

 to hive a swarm away from the clustering place for fear re- 

 turning scouts may draw away the colony. 



Entering the new home. 



When a swarm enters a new abode, the first bees to locate 

 the entrance stand with their legs extended and the abdomen 

 raised to an angle of about 45, while their dorsal scent 

 glands (pp. 65 and 172) are exposed. They fan vigorously 

 and the odor given off is sufficiently strong to be perceived 

 if the nose is placed within an inch or two of the fanning 

 bees. Bees to the rear take up the same position until 

 finally the whole mass is fanning and moving toward the 

 entrance 1 (Fig. 49). This may be observed also if bees 

 are thrown in front of the hive. 



When a swarm enters a cavity, the bees promptly clean 

 it of loose pifeces and dirt, the large pieces and irregularities 

 of the cavity being ultimately covered with propolis. Large 

 numbers of bees, especially the younger ones, now hang 

 on one another in curtains while the secretion of wax takes 

 place for the building of combs. The supply of honey 

 carried in the honey stomachs is adequate to nourish the 

 colony for a time if no nectar can. be brought to the hive. 

 As soon as there are cells available the queen begins egg- 

 laying, the field bees gather the available nectar and 

 pollen and these activities increase as the comb is sup- 

 plied by the comb builders. The swarm is equipped as a 

 normal colony in a surprisingly short time, if the nectar 

 supply is adequate. 



1 If by chance the first bees are headed in the wrong direction or if the 

 hive is moved after the fanning has begun, the whole mass may march 

 away in the wrong direction. In shaking bees in front of the hive it is 

 therefore advisable to toss some of them in the entrance, v. Buttel- 

 Reepen attributes this action to the sound given off in fanning, but there 

 is little to support this belief. In this marching, any slight obstacle in- 

 terferes greatly with the progress of the mass of bees, which would scarcely 

 be the case if sound were the attracting stimulus. Even the smallest 

 amount of smoke interferes for the moment with the entrance of a swarm 

 and smoking should be avoided at this time. 



