Friday, May 4, 2012

Swarming

The warm humid weather of the last few days has kicked swarming into high gear. Beekeepers are being caught off guard by the timing of this swarming behavior.
 Swarming usually happens late May through June. The early spring build up has made colonies that were marginal going into winter, now they have huge populations bursting out of the hive bodies.
 Dividing is the only way out of this. Adding boxes will not stop swarming.
Tips on slowing this down. Overwintered colonies should have the entrance reducer out, the slide out of the screened bottom board and honey supers on.