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After Swarms Different In Appearance From The First When About To Issue

Categories: SWARMING.
Bee Keeping: Mysteries Of Bee-keeping Explained

Another thing, when after swarms start, the appearance about the

entrance is altogether different from first ones, unless there is an

unusual number of bees. I have said that for a little time beforehand,

that such were in an apparent tumult, &c. But after swarms seldom give

any such notice. One or more of the young queens may sometimes be seen

to run out, and back, several times in a few minutes, in a perfect

frenzy;
ometimes fly a short distance, and return before the swarm

will get started (which she could not do if confined). The workers seem

more reluctant about leaving than in first swarms, when a mother

instead of a sister is leader. Even after the swarm is in motion, she

may return and enter the hive a moment. No doubt she finds it necessary

to animate or induce as many as possible to leave with her. A person

watching the issue of a second swarm under these circumstances, for the

first time, and finding the queen leaving first, would very likely

_guess_ all must be alike. Perhaps the next one would be different; the

first thing seen might be the swarm leaving, and no queen discovered at

all. But to return to the imprisonment of the queens. I have one other

fact in objection. I once saw a queen running about in a glass hive,

while they were piping for a second swarm. She was near the glass,

appeared agitated, stopping occasionally to vibrate her wings, which

was simultaneous with the piping, and seemed to make it. The workers

appeared to take but little notice of her. The next day the swarm left.

Here was one instance, at least, of her not being confined till the

time of leaving, making an exception, if not a rule. Let this matter be

as it may, I admit it makes but little difference to the practical

apiarian, either way; but to the reader whose interest is the natural

history of the bee, the truth is important.



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