Swarming is the natural process of separating a new bee colony. If left unchecked, the beekeeper may lose a large number of strong young insects, which will ultimately affect the amount of honey collected. Therefore, the beekeeper’s task is to control the formation of swarms. A detailed story about Taranov’s method against bee swarming will be of interest to beginners and experienced beekeepers.
Reasons for swarming
The onset of swarming can be triggered by several factors:
- too many individuals, crowded hive;
- the old queen no longer produces enough pheromones;
- poor ventilation of the bee house;
- overheating of the hive;
- one entrance, the bees cannot get into the hive for a long time, because they fly in a dense stream;
- lack of frames for honey, filled with nectar and pollen;
Swarming is a sign of a strong, healthy bee colony. Signs that the process is about to begin are:
- increased noise in the hive;
- procuring drone brood by bees;
- the queen does not sow brood;
- formation of queen cells by insects.
There are several ways to prevent the process.
Description of the Taranov anti-swarming method
This method of artificial swarming was proposed by Professor G.F. Taranov and received his name. Insects are brought to a state of swarming, so it is important to constantly be in the apiary during this period so as not to miss the moment of preparing the bees for swarming.
Taranov’s board, which he himself called “an entrance for isolating swarming bees from a colony,” is a simple and effective invention. It is installed next to the hive and serves to collect swarming bees. English beekeepers were the first to evaluate the method. It came to us from England, the term “Taranov’s board” was included in foreign beekeeping manuals and an explanatory dictionary of beekeeping terms. This anti-herb technique is often used by beekeepers, but some consider it too labor-intensive.
Rules of application
A warm day is chosen, the bees fumigate themselves with smoke. Sometimes you even have to knock on the hive, because the insects need to collect honey in their crops. At a distance of 10-15 centimeters from the tap hole with a slight slope there is a sheet of plywood. The bottom edge of the sheet lies on the ground, the top is located at the level of the taphole. The edges of the plywood sheet are smeared with royal jelly.
After this, the bees are shaken off the frames onto the sheet.Sometimes beekeepers lay a sheet or blanket on the ground next to the board.
And bees are shaken off on him. After this, the insects begin their journey along the plywood sheet.
In this way the bee colony is divided. The bees from the hive return to the house, a new queen is placed with them or 1-2 queen cells are left, and the insects raise a new queen. A queen from the colony is placed with young insects ready for swarming. Insects collect on the back of the plywood and along the edges of the extension structure.
The insects that have gathered in a swarm can only be shaken off into a swarm and placed in a cool place, after which the club is transferred to a new hive and a queen is added, or the queen cell is left, and the insects themselves will choose the queen.
Artificial swarming allows weak families to be united. There is no need to catch the flying swarm and remove it from tall trees. The bees quickly forget the way to the old hive and begin to arrange a new home.
The Taranov method is used by beginners and experienced beekeepers. The simplicity and reliability of this method of separating bee colonies allowed our and foreign beekeepers not to lose swarms, increase the number of insects and the amount of honey collected.
