Which bees leave in a swarm? Field bees? Hosue bees? Nurse bees?

**taxonomy** · 08-20-2012, 04:38 PM

I've assumed it was mostly nurse and house bees that left in a swarm since they'd be better at drawing wax and would be around long enough to give brood rearing a good shot? I assumed the field bees would be oriented on the old hive.

Anyone know the makeup of a swarm?

**RayMarler** · 08-20-2012, 04:56 PM

It can have all ages of bees from ten days old and up, as at ten days the bees have their first orientation flight and are ready for wax drawing and nectar storage duties. That means they also have field aged bees as well as they'll need foraging staff when they find the new home. And, don't be surprised a bit if there's some drones in there, especially if the swarm queen is a virgin. I say this because hives with virgins tend to draw drones in from other hives. This is how I see the makeup of swarms anyways.

**Ozone** · 08-20-2012, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by RayMarler

It can have all ages of bees from ten days old and up, as at ten days the bees have their first orientation flight and are ready for wax drawing and nectar storage duties. That means they also have field aged bees as well as they'll need foraging staff when they find the new home. And, don't be surprised a bit if there's some drones in there, especially if the swarm queen is a virgin. I say this because hives with virgins tend to draw drones in from other hives. This is how I see the makeup of swarms anyways.

You can see all that as they fly by? You must have some good eyes....

**RayMarler** · 08-20-2012, 05:12 PM

LOL, no, but I see it when they fly into one of my empties in the beeyard!

**Acebird** · 08-20-2012, 05:12 PM

They have to be young to build comb and they have to be old to be a scout so my guess is that they are all ages that can fly. How the decision is made on who is in the club is a mystery to me. It might even be a different percentage mix between the original queen and a virgin. If you knew the answer how would it change your beekeeping tasks?

**taxonomy** · 08-21-2012, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by Acebird

If you knew the answer how would it change your beekeeping tasks?

Well, I think it would better help me understand the condition of the swarmed hive.

Beyond that I have been doing Taranov splits this past year and it has greatly reduced swarming and made very successful splits. They really take off just list a hived swarm when it works right. I've been getting better at them.

Taranov splits are supposed to isolate the young bees and queen and work best on hives where swarm preparation has already started. In this way with frequent inspections during swarm season you can create very strong splits and naturally requeen the hives.

If you do it right it's fast, simple and works great.

**TokerM** · 08-21-2012, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Acebird

....How the decision is made on who is in the club is a mystery to me....

Bee 1: Pssst... Ethyl, we're all thinking of swarming later, you in?

Bee 2: Sure, I'm in! But there's no way I'm going if Sally is going! I can't stand the way she exaggerates the distance on her foraging dance! "Oh my! I've flown soooo far." I hate her.

Bee 1: OK, I'll make sure nobody lets Sally know. We're going as soon as the new queen cells get finished.

**Ben Brewcat** · 08-21-2012, 05:36 PM

And I think they must decide in the bathroom, where all hierarchical female society decisions are made.

**Roland** · 08-21-2012, 08:21 PM

The oldtimers would tell you it is the field bees that swarm with the old queen, but I can not give any reasons why they believed that.

Crazy Roland. .

**Acebird** · 08-22-2012, 06:19 AM

You need the young bees for wax and you need the old bees for scouts and foraging. How can a swarm expect to survive if there is not a mix?

**Roland** · 08-22-2012, 09:01 PM

Because old bees can do new bees work, and New bees can do old bees work? Versatile little creatures.

Crazy Roland

**honeyshack** · 08-22-2012, 09:13 PM

My thought is, mostly the foragers or the ones who have already done the first flight.
A hive about to swarm goes into swarm mode for many days. They pack in brood nest and what ever space is available with honey and pollen. This is stuff the nurse bees and house bees would not have the ability to do alot of because they need to tend to the brood which is left. The hive that is left use alot of the stores to build the population back up...especially if there are many after swarms to be had.