32 



CHAPTER VII. 

 Swarming. 



Living creatures reproduce their kind to insure the perpetuation of the race, 

 (xenerally speaking, the interest is centred in the direct descent from individual to 

 individual, as each one in turn becomes the fountain source of a new generation. But 

 with bees it is different, for here we have a social organism in which the factor of 

 parentage is subordinate. There is continuity from queen to queen, but this is less 

 important than the reproduction of colonies ; that is, the fact of perpetuation is more 

 centred in the community than in any individual. Furthermore, a queen may die and 

 be succeeded by her daughter, without any increase in the population of the bee-world 

 at large ; whereas, when new colonies are formed, there is an increase both in com- 

 munities and in the total number of bees. 



The bees' method of reproduction, then, is by the formation of new colonies. 

 When the proper season has arrived, generally in June, the hives become very strong 

 with a superabundance of inhabitants, and some fine day thousands of them rush 

 pell-mell out of doors, circling in the air in an ever-darkening cloud for several minutes; 

 then, as if of one mind, they settle in a cluster on a convenient object, which is generally 

 the branch of a near-by tree. Here they cling for quite a while, frequently hours, as 

 if awaiting important news from somewhere ; then, if unmolested, they will suddenl}' 

 decamp to parts unknown, locating in a hole in the trunk of some decaying tree, and 

 there start up the routine of the colony afresh. But in a well-conducted apiary the 

 flight to distant regions is summarily prevented by the bee-keeper, who secures the 

 cluster and houses it in a regular hive. Ordinarily, they accept the domicile, just as 

 pleased as if it were of their own selection. The whole procedure is technically known 

 as swarming. 



In a hive in summer-time there are to be found bees of all ages and occupations. 

 The very youngest are nursing the larvae, making wax, building combs, curing the 

 honey and capping it over ; the older ones are field-workers, their business being to 

 carry in nectar, pollen, water, and propolis. An interesting point at once arises, what 

 is the age of the bees that form the swarm ? The old queen undoubtedly leaves the 

 hive ; that is beyond all dispute ; and it is believed that the greater part of the swarm 

 consists of fielders, but there is also a fair proportion of younger ones whose duty is 

 concerned with the inside labour. This should be so, for the best welfare of the new 

 community. 



Each bee fills her honey-sac to its utmost capacity before starting out, so that the 

 new colony is provisioned for several days ahead, should inclement weather prevent the 

 gathering of nectar. On arrival at the new abode, part of the swarm starts at once to 

 clean it out ; another gathers into festoons and proceeds to secrete wax ; while still 

 others collect the wax and build combs. Just as fast as cells are built the queen lays 

 eggs in them, or the workers store honey, so that in a few days the usual routine of a 

 bee community is established. 



In the hive from which the swarm emerged there has been left quite a strong force 

 of bees, thousands of young brood in all stages, from egg to those about to hatch, and 

 several queen-cells, from each of which tliere may come out a queen. If the conditions 

 seem propitious, the workers may decide to send off several swarms, each accompanied 

 by a virgin queen. Since the liive has been decidedly weakened by the loss of the first 

 swarm, the second will be much smaller, the third weaker still, and so on with the 

 others, until the last may consist of a mere handful of bees. Such weak colonies are 

 almost certain to die of starvation during the winter, as they are rarely strong enough 

 to build up a numerous force and lay in sufficient stores before the cold weather sets in, 

 excepting in very highly favoured localities. 



