98 Afier-Swarms, 



may be heard. This piping sounds like "peep," "peep," is 

 shrill and clear, and can be plainly heard by placing the ear to 

 the hive, nor would it be mistaken. It is followed by a lower, 

 hoarser note, made by a queen still within the cell. _ This 

 piping is best heard by placing the ear to the hive in the 

 evening or early morning. If heard, we may surely expect a 

 swarm the day following, unless the weather is too unpleasant. 



Some have supposed that the cry of the liberated queen 

 was that of hate, while that by the queen still imprisoned 

 was either of enmity or fear. Never wiU an after-swarm 

 leave, unless preceded by this peculiar note. 



At successive periods of one or two days, one, two, or even 

 three more colonies may issue from the old home. Mr. 

 Langstroth knew five after-swarms to issue, and others have 

 reported eight and ten. These last swarms will aU be heralded 

 by the piping of the queen. They will be less particular as to 

 the time of day when they issue, as they have been known to 

 leave before sun-rise, and even after sun-set. The well-known 

 apiarist, Mr. A. F. Moon, once knew a swarm to issue by 

 moon-light. They will, as a rule, cluster farther froto the 

 hive. The after-swarms are accompanied by the queen, and in 

 case swarming is delayed may be attended by a plurality of 

 queens. Berlepsch and Langstroth each saw eight queens 

 issue with a swarm, while others report even more. These 

 virgin queens fly very rapidly, so the swarm will seem more 

 active and definite in its course than will first swarms. 



The cutting short of swarming preparations before the 

 second, third, or even the first swarm issues, is by no means 

 a rare occurrence. This is efiected by the bees destroying the 

 queen-cells, and sometimes by a general extermination of the 

 drones, and is generally to be explained by a cessation of the 

 honey yield. It is commonly observed that while a moderate 

 yield of honey is very provocative of swarming, a heavy 

 flow seems frequently to absorb the entire attention of the 

 bees, and so destroy the swarming impulse entirely. Cells 

 thus destroyed are easily recognized, as they are torn open 

 from the side and not cut back from the end. 



Swarming out at other times, especially in late winter and 

 spring, is sometimes noticed by apiarists. This is due to 

 famine, mice, or some other disturbing circumstance which 

 makes the hive intolerable to the bees. 



