Bee Lore

It is a funny feeling moving house after so many years in the same place.  So much to do.  So many things to sell, pack, or throw away.  Just deciding what to do with everything is a challenge.  And then you have to think yourself into the new place you are moving to.  Where will that table or chair fit?  Should I get a new one of those or make do with the old one that is broken?  All based on a visit to the new property over six weeks ago when all I had was a notepad and a tape measure and no real idea of what should go where.  The bees probably have similar issues.  When they swarm, we are told that there are scout bees that go out and find suitable locations for a new home.   On the day of swarming the queen and the swarming bees initially take up residence just outside the hive – on a tree or a branch.  Then they swarm to their next resting place.  Often they will move into a tree or cavity where bees have been before – just like humans.  No one is exactly sure why bees swarm when they do.  It seems to be for a combination of reasons – but lack of space is definitely one of them.  I am not exactly clear why two of my hives (Hope and Charity) swarmed this year – given that they were both new queens last year.  Perhaps their scout bees found somewhere better.  Like I have done.  The new cottage where I am moving to is better and bigger than where I am – though still quite small.  And it is the best result from all the scouting I have done in the past year around properties in the South East of England.

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Next week I am moving house.  The human equivalent of swarming.  The two-bed cottage in Kent, England which I have lived in for the past (nearly) five years has become too small.   I started the season with three hives.  Two of them have also swarmed this year.  Not a sign of good beekeeping!  But a fascinating (and lucky) thing to experience.  It was a very hot April and Charity (the name of one of my colonies) swarmed very early in the season, requeened naturally and has become very angry.  Hope followed in May.  The only remaining hive, Faith, has been fantastic and has not swarmed yet – but the recent hot weather (like yesterday’s) – combined with the fact that I have not visited the hives for two weeks – means that I wouldn’t be surprised if Faith has also swarmed.  I re-queened Faith in September 2005 with a queen from Basingstoke.  She was very strong last year (producing over 100lbs of honey) and has been equally strong this year (set to produce a similar amount).  The other hives have requeened themselves and have been much less predictable and productive.  Just like in Business, really.  Strong team leaders produce much more than average or randomly selected team-leaders.  Strong (well-bred) team leaders will give consistent service.  They will also be loyal (to a point) and are less likely to swarm.  The analogies are very interesting and I will go into more detail in future postings.

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