Colony Division
it is that time of the season!
Swarming is colony-level reproduction in which the old queen and about half the worker bees leave the colony en masse. They will cluster on a nearby object, typically a tree branch or similar object. The cluster remains there until the bees scout out a new home. The parent colony is left to rear a new queen bee. When a colony swarms there is an interruption in the brood cycle. The parent colony must rear a new queen; the new queen must emerge and mate before she can begin laying and this is a process that will take from 2-6 weeks. The swarm must find a new home and the comb must be drawn before the queen can begin laying. In the mean time, bees are removing varroa mites via grooming and with a reduction in brood cells there is no where for varroa mites to reproduce as they require brood cells for reproduction.
Research supports the development of the co-existence between the European honey bee and varroa mite among feral and isolated apiaries that swarm annually. This co-existence between the bee and the mite is what we are aiming to achieve via splitting!
Research supports the development of the co-existence between the European honey bee and varroa mite among feral and isolated apiaries that swarm annually. This co-existence between the bee and the mite is what we are aiming to achieve via splitting!
Splitting
A split is the division of one colony into two colonies resulting in the parent colony and daughter colony. Below, I have provided a guideline to splitting colonies. Although you may have your own method that you feel more comfortable with, it is important to follow the natural pattern of colony swarming. When splitting a colony, the parent queen MUST be given to the daughter colony (the split) and you MUST allow the parental colony to rear a new queen. Control colonies in the project should be prevented from swarming and not be split. Swarming is related to the space availability; here are several techniques that can keep the incidence of swarming low: 1). removing queen cells 2). providing ample room for queen egg laying and expansion of the brood nest 3). providing ample room for pollen, nectar and honey storage.
Steps
- There is not a specific date of when to split your colony(s), but it would be best to split your colony(s) between the last week of June and the first week of July.
- About 1/3 of the brood frames with clinging bees should be given to the daughter colony and 2/3 left in the parental colony, replacing the frames in the parental colony with frames. Bees on the brood frames are typically nurse bees.
- The queen is given to the daughter colony and the parental colony will be left to rear a new queen, 2-6 weeks.
- Split the pollen, honey and nectar frames between the colonies.
- If needed many beekeepers feed their colonies.
- Record all details of how you split your colony, for example how many frames are given to the daughter colony and the date of your split.
- Record varroa mite numbers (via sticky boards) within one week of splitting of both the parent and daughter colony and the control colony.
REFERENCES
Conte Y., Vaublanca G., Crausera D., Jeanneb F., Rousselle J., Becard J. (2007). Honey bee colonies that have survived Varroa destructor, Apidologie 38, 566-572.
De Jong, D. (1997). In Honey bee pests and predators, Morse, Flottum (ed) Medina OH: A.I. Root. 3rd ed, 281-327.
Delaplane, K. S., J. A. Berry, J. A. Skinner, J. P. Parkman, and W. M. Hood. 2005. Integrated pest management against Varroa destructor reduces colony mite levels and delays treatment threshold. Journal of Apicultural Research 44 (4), 157-162.
Elzen p., Eischen F., Baxter J., Elzen G., Wilson W. (1999). Detection of resistance in US Varroa jacobsoni Oud. (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) to the acaricide fluvalinate, Apidologie 30, 13-17.
Fries I., Imdorf A., Rosenkranz P. (2006). Survival of mite infested (Varroa destructor) honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in a Nordic climate, Apidologie 37, 564-570.
Wantuch H. and Tarpy D. (2009). Removal of drone brod from Apis mellifers (Hymenopotera: Apidae) colonies to control varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) and retain adult drones. Journal of Economic Entomology 102 (6), 2033-2040.
Conte Y., Vaublanca G., Crausera D., Jeanneb F., Rousselle J., Becard J. (2007). Honey bee colonies that have survived Varroa destructor, Apidologie 38, 566-572.
De Jong, D. (1997). In Honey bee pests and predators, Morse, Flottum (ed) Medina OH: A.I. Root. 3rd ed, 281-327.
Delaplane, K. S., J. A. Berry, J. A. Skinner, J. P. Parkman, and W. M. Hood. 2005. Integrated pest management against Varroa destructor reduces colony mite levels and delays treatment threshold. Journal of Apicultural Research 44 (4), 157-162.
Elzen p., Eischen F., Baxter J., Elzen G., Wilson W. (1999). Detection of resistance in US Varroa jacobsoni Oud. (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) to the acaricide fluvalinate, Apidologie 30, 13-17.
Fries I., Imdorf A., Rosenkranz P. (2006). Survival of mite infested (Varroa destructor) honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in a Nordic climate, Apidologie 37, 564-570.
Wantuch H. and Tarpy D. (2009). Removal of drone brod from Apis mellifers (Hymenopotera: Apidae) colonies to control varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) and retain adult drones. Journal of Economic Entomology 102 (6), 2033-2040.