80 AUSTRALIAN BEE LORE AND BEE CULTURE- 



cells by the workers; yet a, fertile queen, one destined to accom- 

 pany the first swarm of the season from the Kive, is allowed all 

 sorts of latitude. How different is the action of bees towards a 

 laying queen to that of the virgins ! Is it caused by filial affec- 

 tion ? As soon as all the swarming indications succeed one and the 

 other, that is, the rapid increase of workers, and of worker brood, 

 the advent of drones, and the perfecting of young queens within 

 the cells, if the weather be favourable, the first swarm may be 

 expected on any day, and almost at any hour, generally from 10 

 to noon. I have known bees to swarm as early as 6.30 a.m., and 

 as late as 5 p.m., but such times are exceptional. No queen, 

 under normal conditions, will go forth with a, swarm before de- 

 positing eggs in queen cells; but she will leave before the first 

 young queen emerges from her cradle. 



There is one symptom of swarming that is infallible, a peculiar 

 sound they emit, and known by most bee-keepers, termed piping. 

 But singularly enough, piping emitted by the bees does not take 

 place prior to the issuing forth of the first swarm, but prior to 

 that of the second. Therefore, it is sometimes contended that the 

 sound is only produced by virgin queens. Be that as it may, it 

 is an unmistakable sound, differing from every other note produced 

 in bee music. It is a high-set, rasping note, likened to " 'peep, 

 peep, peep,' and hence the word 'piping' has been applied; but 

 'teet' and 'zeet' have seemed to some to better mimic the vox 

 regalia"* These sounds can easily be distinguished above the or- 

 dinary hum of the bees. By placing the ear to the side of the 

 hive after the bees have ceased from outdoor labour the sound of 

 "peep, peep, peep," will be heard at frequent intervals. Both 

 the young queens imprisoned in the cells as well as those at 

 liberty, produce this challenging cry. Huber says, "What seemed 

 most singular was that this female (virgin queen) emitted a very 

 distinct sound, or clacking, from her prison. It was still more 

 audible in the evening, and even consisted of several monotonous 

 notes in rapid succession." Further on, referring to a newly- 

 emerged queen, he says, "When she approached the other royal 

 cells, the bees on guard pulled, bit her, and chased her away; 

 they seemed to be greatly irritated against her. She twice emitted 

 the sound ; in doing so, she stood her thorax against a comb, and 

 the wings crossed on her back; they were in motion, but without 

 being unfolded or further opened. Whatever might have been 



*Cheshire, Vol. I. 



