Swarms: Thinking Inside the Box

# Swarms ## "Thinking Inside the Box" #### Matthew Richardson #### (Press 's' to see slide notes)

## Swarming Behaviour > A process where the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees to set up a new hive elsewhere. Notes: * These slides assume knowledge of what a swarm is and the purpose of swarming

## Who's in a Swarm? * Old (scout) bees * Young (nurse) bees Notes: * Old scouts needed to find a new location * Long life expectancy (delay til new brood emerge) * Original colony has emerging brood to replace old bees * Young bees better at cleaning, wax building, brood rearing * Not oriented to original site, so less drift/losses later

## What Triggers Swarming? #### Main factors * Age & Vigour of Queen * Colony Size & Congestion (brood nest) #### Additional factors * Honey Flow * Presence of Drones * Strain (carnica/ligustica/mellifera) * Weather Notes: Main triggers relate to the presence/absence of queen footprint pheremone from the Arnhardt glands/tarsal glands * congestion: queen can't move, workers rub off pheremone, honey-bound frames not visited * old queens produce less pheremone * heavy flow - bees switch from rearing to storing, less queen activity, more time on honey frames * end of flow - bees are bored!

## Swarm Management > Working to prevent, delay and control swarming behaviour.

## Swarm Prevention > Methods to suppress or delay the onset of swarming. * Young, strong queens * Space (adding boxes, or removing bees) * Strains, selection and breeding * Reversing/Checkerboarding Notes: * Never really prevention - more delaying the inevitable! * Young queens, more pheremone, less swarms * Avoid congestion - rule of 7s OR take bees out * Choose non-swarmy bees, by strain and/or by breeding * Reversing/checkerboarding can be risky in cold/changeable weather - brood death & chalkbrood

## Swarm Control > Methods to deal with swarming when it has already begun.

## The Taranov Method ![Taranov](img/taranov.gif "Taranov") Notes: single, horizontal, increase, complete disruption * Most 'natural' but quite invasive! * No need to find queen * Great method to get young bees for nucs etc, even if not splitting

## Nucleus Method 1. Set up an empty nuc box next to the hive. 2. Transfer 3 frames of Sealed Brood, 1 of Stores and 1 Foundation. 3. Add the Queen and Young bees to the nuc. 4. In the Hive, remove all but *1* Queen Cell. 5. Revisit after 7 days to remove new Queen Cells. Notes: * Very easy to carry out * No heavy lifting or extra equipment * Very easy to miss a QC and have casts!

## The Pagden Method 1. The old hive is moved to one side of the old site. 2. A new hive with empty frames is placed on the old site. 3. The Queen is moved to the new hive, and supers added (if present). 4. Flying bees return and join the queen. Notes: * Simple method. * No timings to worry about.

## The Heddon Method _steps 1-4 from the Pagden Method, then..._ 1. One week later, the old hive is moved to the other side of the old site. 2. Newly emerging flying bees drift into the original site. Notes: * Extra (physical!) step. * Improves foraging, but risky if stores low

## The Demaree Method 1. Move the brood box to one side. 2. Destroy all queen cells. 3. Place a new brood box on the floor containing drawn comb. 4. Transfer the Queen and 1-3 frames capped brood into it. 5. Add a queen excluder and 2 supers. 6. Add the original brood box. 7. _After 5-6 days, destroy any new Queen Cells in top box._ Notes: * Flexible routes (can increase). * Needs supers present for Q separation. * Must have some drawn frames or bees will only work supers! * Can keep swapping boxes if repeated swarm signs * Doesn't work if colony is right on the cusp of swarming!

## The Snelgrove Board ![Snelgrove Board](img/snelgrove-board.jpg "Snelgrove Board")

## The Snelgrove Method (I) 1. Move the brood box to one side. 2. Place a new brood box on the floor containing drawn comb. 3. Transfer the Queen and 1-3 frames capped brood into it. 4. Add the Snelgrove Board, with top-left door open. 5. Day 4-5: Close top-left, open bottom-left and top-right. 6. Day 9-10: Close bottom-left and top-right, open bottom-right, and top-rear. 7. Day 14-15: Close bottom-right. 8. Leave undisturbed to allow a new queen to emerge. Notes: * Effectively a vertical Heddon * Lots of steps to follow, but no need to open hive. * Must have some drawn frames or bees will only work supers! * May need to feed brood as losing foragers

## The Horsley Board ![Horsley Board QE open](img/horsley-closed.png "Horsley Board I") ![Horsley Board QE closed](img/horsley-open.png "Horsley Board II")

## The Horsley Method 1. Move the brood box to one side. 2. Place a new brood box on the floor containing drawn comb. 3. Transfer the Queen and 1-3 frames capped brood into it. 4. Add the Horsley board, entrance to the rear. 5. Close the entrance, opening the quen excluder and replace the original box. 6. After 3-4 days, open the entrance, closing the queen excluder. 7. Leave undisturbed to allow a new queen to emerge. Notes: * Like starting with demaree, ending with snelgrove

## Tips * Be prepared * Mix & Match * Queen Clipping * Feeding * Drawn Comb Notes: * know your timings, regular inspections, have equip and a plan ready * M-M e.g. Start with demaree, switch to a solid floor/snelgrove board * Queen clipping allows 14 day inspections * Feeding if using foundation is v. useful * Drawn comb is the most valuable thing in the apiary

## Questions? #### matt@woodwose.net #### Talk Slides: https://goo.gl/jzXTgn