Warm Winter Breeds Early Honeybee Swarm Season in Greater Victoria

Warm Winter Breeds Early Honeybee Swarm Season in Greater Victoria

The unusually mild winter in Greater Victoria has led to an early start to the honeybee swarming season, with beekeepers like Bill Cavers, president of the Capital Region Beekeepers Association (CRBA), receiving calls as early as mid-April. Typically, bees go dormant by mid-November, but this winter, they remained active, leading to an early swarming season.

The Dual Impact of an Early Swarm Season

An early swarming season has both positive and negative effects. On the positive side, it indicates a healthy honeybee population and bodes well for the honey production season. Swarming is a natural reproductive process for hives, where half the bees leave with the queen to form a new colony, leaving behind queen pupae to continue the original hive.

However, the continuous activity of bees throughout the winter poses challenges for beekeepers, particularly in treating hives for mites. Normally, beekeepers rely on the bees' dormancy to treat mites without harming other hive inhabitants. This year, due to the lack of a "brood break," there was less opportunity to kill mites, which are parasitic infestations spreading across North America. Mites latch onto bees, infecting hives and causing additional diseases.

Handling Honeybee Swarms

While honeybee swarms are generally docile, they can be inconvenient when they land in public or private spaces. The CRBA operates a swarm hotline, receiving six to eight calls a week. Beekeepers like Cavers respond to these calls, collecting and relocating swarms. This ensures the bees' survival, as they have a higher chance of thriving in a managed hive than in the wild.

Local authorities, like VicPD, also play a role in swarm management. Recently, they responded to a swarm near a busy intersection in Victoria, calling in a beekeeper to handle the situation.

The Importance of Professional Swarm Collection

Beekeepers emphasize the importance of professional swarm collection to protect both the bees and the public. The CRBA has a dozen members ready to assist with swarm relocation. When a call is received, they first determine if the swarm consists of honeybees, bumblebees, or wasps (they do not collect wasps). They then gather details about the swarm's location and accessibility before dispatching a beekeeper.

Collecting swarms benefits everyone involved: it resolves the inconvenience for residents, provides beekeepers with new broods, and ensures the bees' survival in a controlled environment.

Conclusion

The early start to the honeybee swarming season in Greater Victoria highlights the impact of mild winters on bee activity. While it brings challenges in mite treatment, it also signifies healthy bee populations. Local beekeepers and authorities work together to manage swarms, ensuring safety and environmental benefits. Residents encountering swarms are encouraged to contact the CRBA for safe and effective swarm collection.

 A mild winter has led to an early start to honeybee swarming season in Greater Victoria, starting in mid-April instead of the usual May. This early activity has both positive and negative consequences. While it indicates healthy honeybee populations and promises a good honey season, it also complicates mite treatment processes for beekeepers. Beekeepers rely on a dormant period to treat hives for mites, which wasn't available this year. However, swarms, which are usually docile, are essential for hive reproduction and are relocated by local beekeepers to ensure their survival and environmental contribution.

FAQs

1. Why did the honeybee swarm season start early in Greater Victoria?

   • The swarm season started early due to a mild winter that kept bees active through December, unlike their usual dormancy starting mid-November.

2. What are the positive effects of an early swarm season?

   • An early swarm season indicates healthy honeybee populations and suggests a promising honey production season.

3. What challenges do beekeepers face with early swarm seasons?

   • Beekeepers struggle to treat hives for mites without harming bees because they rely on a dormant period, which was unavailable due to the bees' continuous activity.

4. What should residents do if they encounter a honeybee swarm?

   • Residents should contact local beekeepers, such as those from the Capital Region Beekeepers Association, who can safely and gently collect and relocate the swarm.

5. How do beekeepers handle swarms?

   • Beekeepers first identify whether the swarm consists of honeybees, bumblebees, or wasps (only collecting honeybees), and then collect and relocate the swarm, ensuring a higher survival rate for the bees.

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