Opportunity to Understand Honey Bee Swarm Biology via Participatory Research / Citizen Science
Honey bee swarms are fascinating. Have you ever wondered what percentage of worker bees leave the parental hive during a swarm? You have probably read in bee books or a couple of journal articles that about 50% of the worker bees will swarm along with the old queen to establish a new nest. One study published in 2012 (Rangel and Seeley, Insectes Sociaux 59, 453–462), suggests that 75% of worker bees leave in a swarm. The percentage of worker bees leaving in a swarm could vary depending on the time of the year (April, May, June, or July) and a few other factors. We (OSU Honey Bee Lab) are interested in exploring this interesting and not-so-well-understood aspect of swarm biology with the help of citizen scientists (our passionate beekeepers) by examining as many swarms as possible. If you would like to be a part of this research this year (2022), then please read the study process below.
Study process / method: If you witness a low-hanging swarm that can be easily accessed and captured without any risk / hazard, and you also know for sure the source of that swarm (parental hive), then you can be a part of this study. Once the swarm is settled on a branch or other substrate, that swarm needs to be hived carefully in a single story hive with eight or ten frames (frames can be empty or with some honey and pollen). Then the worker bee population should be estimated in both the captured swarm (in the single-story hive) and the parental hive (original hive that swarmed). We can help you estimate the worker population by providing step-by-step instructions. Please call us (Ramesh Sagili: 979 739-9347 or 541 737-5460; Carolyn Breece: 541 737-5440; Heike Williams: 541 740-7877) if you happen to successfully capture a swarm and know the parental hive from which the swarm was issued.
Appreciate your help in increasing the body of knowledge regarding swarming.
Ramesh Sagili