Hungry swarm

In beekeeping, a swarm of bees is called a swarm of hunger or begging swarm that flies out due to hunger pressure and therefore outside of the usual swarming time. The swarm contains a mated queen .

The swarming usually takes place in late autumn or very early spring, when there is not enough food available and the beekeeper does not provide sufficient additional feeding . In addition to hunger, high parasite pressure in the beehive , especially from varroa mites , can trigger swarming outside of swarming time.

After the swarm has flown out, the rules of the bee law apply .

Literature and web links

• Keyword Hungerschwarm in Pierer's Universal-Lexikon , Volume 8. Altenburg 1859; P. 625.