From: "Helmut E. Garz" <hommes@olympus.net>
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 10:37:20 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: best mating time?

swarming, absconding and joining.

We have here another example of the unpredictable behavior pattern of bees.

Depending where one is located and the climatic environment, swarming can be any time and in specific locations .( That leaves the backdoor wide open )
The survival of ,one could say that in northern locations depends on the
size of the swarm and food supply. Another possibility is the feeding habit
of sugar syrup for survival. I rather would combine than feed unless that's
all I got.

Absconding is usually a function of an undesirable housing ( Whatever that
is)or disease or queenless and join another colony. Usually those guys take
all the stores with them. Or pick it up in successive flights.

Joining another bunch. One case in my yard : A TBH beside a Lang. The TBH
had no queen or a an unmated princess. The Lang had a LARGE swarm of a
different race ( Presumed "Italian" ) Also Queenless. One day, while I
happened to look ,a solid column of bees marched out of the Lang and walked over to the TBH without ANY fighting and joined the colony of the TBH. It became the largest colony I ever had in my apiary. There must be more migration going on which are very difficult to observe but how can it be
explained that one or the other colony disappears from their hive and
another appeared to have increased.

Lots of assumptions and little facts, which make it all the more interesting
and gives space for never ending differences of opinion.

In any case : Happy beeing
Helmut