Greetings again, and happy Spring!

I received a link to a blog post from a bee friend asking my opinion. Here is what concerned him:

ATTENTION BEEKEEPERS OF HIVES THAT SURVIVED THE WINTER! SPLIT YOUR HIVES AND OPEN THE BROODNEST ASAP OR YOU WILL LOSE 1/2 OF YOUR BEES TO SWARMING!!! THIS INCLUDES YOU, IF YOU HAVE A NEW HIVE FROM LAST YEAR!!!

This does seem worrisome, doesn’t it? All caps, seven exclamation points in three sentences, bold type.. I am sorry that we are so modern, so worried about our days here that we even have to be worried about bees doing what they most want to do. Bees swarm because everything is great. As they swarm, they sing to the world their joy, and you can participate if you are lucky. This week I was part of the local electricity and stood under, amazed, and followed three swarms from the same crazy hive. My dear wife was with me for one of the swarms. I hope you are so lucky one day.

I had given that hive an extra super in plenty of time, but they wanted to swarm. After each swarm, I thought to remove that super, thinking there wouldn’t be enough bees left to adequately patrol the space, but each time I looked I saw plenty of bees. Even now, after the third swarm, that hive is full of bees. It was a new hive from last year, just like that blog post warned, and that queen must have laid a mighty batch of eggs before she left.

Why would you worry about swarming? Maybe you had a hive once that swarmed and then the remaining bees died. I would suggest that cause and effect are not so obvious here, and the swarming did not kill your colony. They may not have liked your hive or the location, and they got away the only way they could. I would also suggest that if you will be deeply saddened by losing your last hive, you should have four or more at a minimum, like I do. My minimum is four hives, and my average is eight, all so I will never be bee-less.

If you are making a livelihood from bees, then you can legitimately be worried about swarming; but then again I would suggest you do not base your needs upon the life and growth of animals, as you may be inclined to over-stress them for your profit. Animals can not speak for themselves against our forcing them to provide us an income. However, this is between you and your conscience. Best wishes to you.

This whole modern world seems geared toward encouraging fear. I see why corporations push it, as money is to be made. But come on. Let’s don’t be afraid of bees being happy. Practice your climbing skills, and get those bees into a new hive next time they swarm. Feel joy for their joy, and participate in the burgeoning life of this marvelous Spring!

--love, Jack

(humorous photo from the internet is not me)