[SDCBeeks] Early swarms reported

[CAROL HORWITZ]

This is a little article I wrote for our local newspaper about swarms.  
If anyone would like to use it or revise it please feel free.

Carol

HONEYBEE SWARMS
2/19/2024
Carol A. Horwitz, Beekeeper
White Duck Farm, Ribera
575-421-0100

When I lived in the Midwest elm trees were called “trash” trees.  They 
created problems with water pipes and were impossible to dig up or get 
rid of.  Now that I am back in New Mexico, and a beekeeper, I love my 
elm trees.  Why?  They bloom in the late winter, early spring.  And they 
flower!!!  Those little red balls become flowers and my honeybees can’t 
get enough of the elm pollen.  With new pollen the queen bee is told to 
step up the worker bee egg production which, 21 days later become our 
new crop of pollinators.  This also means that the hives can get 
crowded, with all the new mouths to feed, which can lead to honeybee 
swarming.  I know it can be disconcerting to see a big ball of honeybees 
hanging off your roof or peach tree, but fear not.  A swarm of bees is 
at its most docile – no honey to protect.  They are only looking for a 
nice new home.  Scout bees search out possible locations for their new 
home – perhaps a hole in a tree or a loose board under your window or 
another unlikely place.  All the scouts return to the swarm and dance 
about possible new homes and the colony together decides on which scout 
dance is the most attractive.  They follow the scout and set up 
housekeeping in a new location.  All this to say, don’t try to get rid 
of that swarm.  They will move on quickly.  Instead say a little prayer 
of thanks for the good work f our pollinators.  Call me if you have 
questions on concerns at 575-421-0100 – Carol at White Duck Farm in 
Ribera.




















On 2025-04-09 15:33, katewhealen at earthlink.net wrote:
> I’ve had three swarms reported by beekeepers of their own bees, one off 
> Rodeo Rd/Jaguar area, one in south Capitol today, and one in the 
> Pojoaque Valley yesterday. With the recent cold weather if the bees get 
> cooped up for a while they often feel crowded and swarm once the warm 
> weather returns. Be sure to keep eye on your colonies now that things 
> are blooming.
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