Just previous to the departure the workers fill themselves to their 
fullest capacity with honey. Thus they are equipped for the work 
of establishing a new home, and are provisioned against hunger 
should there immediately follow a few days when no food-collecting 
is possible. Usually swarms alight and remain clustered on some 
support for a varying length of time before occupying their new 
home. There is evidence that certain worker bees called scouts 
frequently and possibly usually select the new home and direct 
the swarm to it after they have been clustered for a time. Swarms 
have been known to remain on the limb of a tree where first they 
clustered, there build their nest and remain until they perished from 
the winter storms. 
Primary swarms usually alight comparatively low and not far from 
the hive, but after-swarms are not so considerate of the beekeeper’s 
wishes and often alight high and at some distance from the hive. 
Eventually the clustered bees normally break cluster and fly 
to the home selected. In this they cluster again in a compact mass. 
The younger workers within a short time secrete wax, and the work 
of building the combs of the new home begins. A part of the field 
force goes out, collects and brings to the hive pollen, water and 
nectar, and as soon as cells are prepared the queen commences egg 
deposition. The size of the nest enlarges as the number of bees 
and the season will permit, and in due time the colony becomes 
fully established. Honey and pollen are collected and stored. As 
autumn comes on preparation is made for winter, and brood-rearing 
ceases. 
THE PARENT COLONY 
When the swarm departed from the hive it left behind combs 
stocked with honey, pollen and brood of all ages. There were also 
queen cells in different stages of development, some of which were 
sealed, and the worker force which was afield at the time the swarm 
issued. 
If the primary swarm was not delayed by unfavorable weather 
conditions, a second swarm is due to issue about the ninth day 
after the primary swarm came forth. This second swarm, and any sub- 
sequent after-swarms, is accompanied by an unmated queen (virgin). 
The behavior of after-swarms is similar to that of primary swarms 
except that they usually alight higher and farther from the hive. 
A prosperous colony in a favorable season may cast three swarms. 
The third issues about four days after the second. When the last after- 
swarm is cast all the emerged queens go with it except one. A swarm 
may thus have several queens (virgins) with it. It is supposed 
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