It is swarm time!!! (v.o. English)

Oh-oh! It is April! Flowers and trees blossom...and bees multiply - like crazy!! Colonies need a lot of bees to gather and collect nectar, that they can turn into honey. Some of the colonies grow so fast that ...they run out of space in the hive! So then, they decide to split the colony. The old queen takes half of the bees with her, and looks for a new house, while the other half of the bees stay in the old hive, where they will raise a new queen.

Swarming is the natural way for bees to multiply. By the time that the old queen leaves the hive, she knows where she is going. Some scouts have gone already for various days house-hunting (yes, it is true!!!) and they have chosen a cozy new home.

When they leave the old colony, on the way to their new home, they might encounter bad weather, rain, or, simply, the queen might get tired...so they have to rest somewhere.

Indeed, anywhere! So, if you see a swarm hanging from a lamp-post, a fence...or even a window frame, do not worry. They are there only temporarily -sometimes for 10 minutes, sometimes for a couple of days!. And no, they do not attack or sting, why? because they are more worried to host the old queen in the new home!

If you live in Zurich, and see a swarm, contact us! we will relocate the bees to our beautiful Swiss cottage, and offer you some honey as a bounty!