Beekeeping: When swarming causes losses in the trade

Mary O’Riordan writes on the travails of the beekeeper when swarming causes the loss of a hive of bees and a crop of honey

URING the months of May and June most beekeeper thoughts turn to swarming, especially the big strong stocks with last year’s queen still in residence.

Ddifferent patterns emerge during each inspection — in one particular apiary, they have made no effort at swarming, so far, while in other apiaries there has been swarming galore, some were near oilseed rape which always brings on swarming when the crop goes off.