[An-Nahl]

When a hive Swarms, is there a percentage of Bees that leaves/ stays?

Generally how long before new queen hatches from her cell and what are her chances of mating with a drone from the Swarm or hive she is currently in?

How long before I should check the hive where the exodus was made?


Thank you in advance!

 

[Iddee]

On the average, she will take about 1/3 of the hive with her.

She will leave 2 to 3 days before the new queen emerges if all conditions are right.

Nature has ways of reducing inbreeding. If one of her brothers does make it, the workers will know it and not raise the young. She will mate with 10 to 20 drones, so the loss of one's offspring won't cause much problem.

The new queen will begin laying from 6 to 21 days after the swarm.

Take all the above with a grain of salt, as nature never sticks to a strict schedule. All of it is variable.

 

[Hobie]

Nature has ways of reducing inbreeding. If one of her brothers does make it, the workers will know it and not raise the young.

This is fascinating. It raises the questions: How do the workers know? And, how long did it take scientists to figure this out?

 

[An-Nahl]

Thank you ID

May I ask how it is decided which bees stay and which goes, does the age of the bee play a role?

 

[Iddee]

Hobie, you're past my abilities with that question. Same with which ones go.

Age isn't the deciding factor. All ages can be found in a swarm.