Author Topic: Preswarm bee behavior  (Read 3277 times)

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Offline apisbees

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Preswarm bee behavior
« on: May 07, 2014, 03:06:55 pm »
Preswarm bee behavior. this link shows what is happening in the hive at intervals before a swarm in issued.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8562000/8562904.stm

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Offline Bamabww

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Re: Preswarm bee behavior
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2014, 08:33:40 pm »
Very interesting info and video. Thanks for that link.
Wayne

Offline blueblood

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Re: Preswarm bee behavior
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2014, 09:16:03 pm »
Thanks Keith! That was nuts near the 100 minute mark!!

Offline Lburou

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Re: Preswarm bee behavior
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2014, 09:37:39 pm »
Interesting to hear those bees stirring the tempo to swarm.  Reminds me of radio talk show hosts stirring the pot.  ;)
Lee_Burough

Offline blueblood

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Re: Preswarm bee behavior
« Reply #4 on: May 08, 2014, 07:10:59 am »
Keith, I had a swarm two days ago in my yard.  None of my hives seemed obvious as the casting one.  However, last night I checked on my hives around dusk.  All hives were pretty quiet except for one of my strongest hives that I have been watching closely.  They were buzzing heavily and milling around quickly at the entrance, about 10-15 of them.  The entire hive was buzzing though.  I wonder if this is pre or post swarm behavior?

Offline riverbee

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Re: Preswarm bee behavior
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2014, 01:01:53 am »
good video apis, thanks!

one behavior i have witnessed and have happened to catch this a few times myself when divides were not done on a timely basis or queens came in late.
activity i have observed inside the hive prior to an imminent swarm....(no flying activity whatsoever, no pollen or nectar gathering of course) but open the hive to find bees packed solid on the frames, every frame, tight, right next to each other, facing up, and in unison moving side to side with some bees 'piping' and running through or over the tops of their sisters with an elevated hum going on......OOPS......

it's kind of an incredible and amazing sight to see actually, the first time i saw this in the hive, not knowing, and within 2 hours the bees lifted off and away they went into the wild blue yonder......
i keep wild things in a box..........™
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Offline Jen

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Re: Preswarm bee behavior
« Reply #6 on: May 11, 2014, 01:07:14 am »
Riv- ""And in unison moving side to side with some bees 'piping' and running through or over the tops of their sisters with an elevated hum going on""

Wow! Sounds like marching with bugglers! That would be awesome to watch ~
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Offline tmrschessie

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Re: Preswarm bee behavior
« Reply #7 on: May 11, 2014, 10:12:32 am »
Keith that was a great learning tool. Thank you. Tom

Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Preswarm bee behavior
« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2014, 11:38:54 am »
Thanks for posting.  That was great.