Artificial swarming of bees: specifics and basic techniques, rules

To increase the productivity of the apiary, beekeepers use various methods to increase bee colonies. These methods also include artificial swarming, which allows you to significantly expand the apiary and breed new bees ready to collect nectar. We will talk in detail about the correct choice of methods and timing of reproduction of hardworking insects.

What is swarming?

The natural process of bee swarming occurs when the nest is overcrowded and is undesirable for beekeepers.

Main causes of swarming:

• hive overheating due to weather and climate factors;
• too big offspring;
• old queen in the family;
• small hive with poor ventilation;
• womb does not produce enough secretion, which contributes to the entrainment of the number of drones.

To prevent uncontrolled reproduction of insects, the following activities are carried out:

• at the first signs of swarming, it is necessary to expand the living space of the hive;
• to get he althy offspring, the brood should be located in the central part of the house;
• shouldn't let the sun overheat the nest;
• if necessary, you need to feed your family;
• in the heat and drought, the hives are ventilated.

During an uncontrolled process, the nest is transformed, which negatively affects the collection of nectar and insect brood. Also, overpopulation of the hive increases the risk of developing various diseases and attacks of harmful parasites.

Important! Artificial swarming takes place under the strict guidance of the beekeeper, who himself chooses the timing of the start of the separation of families and their number.

Specific artificial swarming

To increase the number of insects in the apiary, the beekeeper separates young insects and brood from a strong swarm, which themselves will bring out the queen for a new hive. In this case, the swarming process will do without searching for a queen, and the insects will work tirelessly from the moment a new nest is formed.

You can also be puzzled in advance, and by the time the hive is resettled, you can purchase a queen in the nursery.

In order for the process of increasing the apiary to be painless for the beekeeper and insects, the following rules must be followed:

• only young bees from strong and large colonies are selected for swarming;
• work is carried out 30-40 days before the flowering of honey plants, otherwise the new family will not be able to be active in collecting nectar.

Young individuals are placed in a new nest, from where they crawl out for the first time to fly around, and then return back.

Important! The timing of the swarming of a bee colony is chosen based on the weather conditions of the region and the flowering of honey plants in the area.

Basic techniques

There are several ways to plan apiary expansion. Work is carried out in spring or early summer, before the period of active bribe. In regions with long autumns and warm winters, the swarming procedure can be carried out after the flowering of honey plants has ended.

1. The division of a he althy and strong family is carried out during the day, when the main part of the working insects is outside the hive. A new hive is brought to the house and a part of the frames with brood, queen bee, honey and bee bread is transferred into it. The old and new hives are placed at the same distance from their original location. Upon arrival, the bees themselves will be distributed to the houses.
2. When creating layers, young individuals are separated into a separate family.
3. The method of swarming by the raid on the uterus is justified in the case of a very strong colony with many workers, flying bees. To do this, a frame with a queen and masonry is removed from the nest and transferred to a new house, which is installed in place of the old hive.The old house, in which only young bees remained, is taken to a remote corner of the apiary and an additional queen is placed in it.

Important! Each of the breeding methods of bee colonies will help to avoid uncontrolled swarming of insects.

Taranov's method

It is impossible to predict the timing of the natural swarming of a bee colony, but it is quite possible to prepare for the process. With this approach, the well-known scientist, beekeeping specialist G.F. Taranov invented his own technique that prevents undesirable consequences from unscheduled swarming of bees.

Step-by-step instructions for processing the hive:

• with the help of smoke, the inlet to the hive and the upper part of the frames are fumigated;
• under the influence of smoke, insects fall into a half-asleep state;
• plywood is installed in front of the hive so that one end of it rests on the ground, and the other does not reach 10 cm from the arrival board;
• the cage with the uterus is hung under the arrival board;
• a large piece of light cloth is spread on the ground, into which all the bees from the hive are brushed;
• insects will crawl to the entrance and gather in a swarm around their queen, but the worker insects will then go to the nest, and the young individuals will remain with the queen.

After separation, the queen with young bees is placed in a new hive and taken to the other side of the apiary.

Important! At the end of the work, both families need additional feeding with honey and bee bread.

Education layering

In order to divide the bee family and quickly get additional workers to collect nectar, experienced beekeepers carry out artificial swarming by layering.

For this, young individuals are placed in a separate hive along with the brood and transferred to another place. After adaptation, a queen cell or queen is placed in the hive to create a separate family.

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