BEES 



637 



A wise keeper will have clean hives in readiness. These should be 

 kept in a shady place, so as to be cool as possible for the incoming swarm. 

 Newl\ swarmed colonies will not remain in overheated hives. For this 

 reason the hive should be kept well shaded and well ventilated for several 

 days after the swarm goes into it. Some recommend giving a frame of 

 brood to the newcomers, as bees are less apt to desert this. 



Bees rarely fail to cluster after swarming. If they light on a limb 

 that can be spared, it may be sawed off and the bees carried to the new 

 hive. If this is not practical, the bees may be shaken off into a basket 

 or box and taken to the hive. A box with a long handle is useful for swarms 

 on high limbs. It is not necessary to secure all the bees. If the queen 

 is hived the rest will follow. If she is not hived, 

 however, the bees will leave the hive and join 

 the cluster again. Bees are usually peaceful at 

 swarming time, having filled themselves with 

 honey before starting out. A little smoke blown 

 into the cluster usually subdues them. 



Great care must be used in handling the bees 

 that none be crushed. The odor from a crushed 

 bee excites the living bees and makes them diffi- 

 cult to handle. 



Soon after hiving the bees resume their 

 normal duties. The queen begins to lay eggs 

 and the workers store honey in anticipation of 

 the new brood. Extra frames should now be 

 placed for the storage of honey. If there were 

 incomplete supers on the parent hive, these 

 should be lifted over on the new hive. 



The departing swarm leaves behind several 

 queen cells which will hatch in a few days. All 

 but one of these will be destroyed by the workers. 



Two or three days after the remaining queen bee has been fertilized she 

 begins to lay eggs and the colony resumes its normal routine. 



How to Prevent Swarming. — A reasonable amount of swarming is 

 desirable, as in this manner new colonies are started. However, much 

 swarming weakens the colonies. Weak colonies do not store an abundance 

 of honey or winter well. Neither do they resist moths and disease. An 

 overcrowded colony is the most common cause of swarming. As a pre- 

 ventive, plenty of room should be kept in the hive by removing the 

 honey supply often and furnishing extra supers. The hives should be 

 kept well shaded and ventilated. 



One queen to a colony is the rule. Too many queens cause swarming. 

 If the queen cells are carefully watched and cut out, the number can be 

 regulated. The queen cells are readily recognized by the keeper, as they 



^Courtesy of U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. Farmers' Bulletin 447. 



Queen Cells. 1 



