When the hive becomes too crowded, the colony prepares to divide—a natural reproductive process that ensures the genetic diversity of honeybees.
1️Swarm mood:
Weeks beforehand, the bees get restless: they start building queen cells. Regular hive inspections help the beekeeper recognize this phase. Our students in the beekeeping group, under the guidance of the school’s beekeeper (a teacher), get to examine the hives and learn to interpret the signs.
2 The departure:
On warm, calm days, about half the colony leaves with the old queen—a breathtaking natural spectacle that showcases the vitality of the bee colony.
3️ The bee cluster:
The swarm gathers in a dense cluster near the original hive. Here, the bees rest while scouts decide on a new nesting site.
4️ Democratic house hunting:
Scout bees explore potential new homes. Through their famous waggle dances, they present their findings, which are then verified and either confirmed or rejected by the others.
5️
... Show more...When the hive becomes too crowded, the colony prepares to divide—a natural reproductive process that ensures the genetic diversity of honeybees.
1️Swarm mood:
Weeks beforehand, the bees get restless: they start building queen cells. Regular hive inspections help the beekeeper recognize this phase. Our students in the beekeeping group, under the guidance of the school’s beekeeper (a teacher), get to examine the hives and learn to interpret the signs.
2 The departure:
On warm, calm days, about half the colony leaves with the old queen—a breathtaking natural spectacle that showcases the vitality of the bee colony.
3️ The bee cluster:
The swarm gathers in a dense cluster near the original hive. Here, the bees rest while scouts decide on a new nesting site.
4️ Democratic house hunting:
Scout bees explore potential new homes. Through their famous waggle dances, they present their findings, which are then verified and either confirmed or rejected by the others.
5️ Moving into the new home:
Once a consensus is reached, the swarm moves into its new home. The bees immediately begin building comb, and life in the new hive gets underway.
The swarming season is a special phase in the bees’ annual cycle, which our pupils in the beekeeping group experience firsthand with great enthusiasm and curiosity.
Stavanger Steinerskolen
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