The swarming season fast approaches... Please contact your local beekeeping association if a swarm appears near you. Here are a few facts about swarms to help you understand why honeybees swarm. Please share...

SWARMS

1. Swarming is a completely natural process.

2. It’s a sign that a colony is healthy.

3. Swarming takes place because the honeybees need more space in their hive.

4. The house bees start building queen cells so the queen knows she has to leave.

5. The attendants stop feeding the queen three days before they swarm so she loses weight and can fly further.

6. Scout bees go out and search for somewhere for the swarm to go.

7. They come back and perform a waggle dance and the one that gets the most votes is the place they eventually go!

8. When the queen swarms she takes all the flying bees with her which is half the colony.

9. After they have done their initial swarm, they do not stay there long. The scout bees go out again - from the swarm - and search for a permanent home for the queen.

THIS IS WHY IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU SEE A SWARM YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATION AND THEY WILL SEND SOMEONE OUT, LIKE ME, TO COME AND COLLECT THE SWARM.

IF YOU DON’T MAKE THAT CALL THE SWARM WILL FLY OFF AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL NOT SURVIVE.

ABOUT 25,000 HONEYBEES WILL DIE UNNECESSARILY.

Now you can win a signed copy of ‘Betsie Valentine And The Honeybees’ by answering one simple question:

Why do honeybees swarm?

Simply email me @ meriet@mdthequeenbee.co.uk with your answers. All names will be put into a hat and the first one out will win a signed copy of of my book.

GOOD LUCK!