Practical Guide: 1.4.6 Natural Swarm
The natural swarm is the natural form of colony reproduction and occurs primarily in spring and early summer. It represents both an opportunity for colony multiplication and a challenge for apiary management. The following information is based on the official Practical Guide 1.4.6 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.
Official Practical Guide – Summary
Practical Guide: 1.4.6 Natural Swarm
- Principle: Swarming is the natural reproductive process of a honey bee colony in which a portion of the bees leaves the hive with the old queen.
- Typical signs:
- Construction of queen cells.
- High colony strength and strong comb-building activity.
- Changed behaviour prior to swarming.
- Timing:
- Mainly in spring and early summer.
- Depending on colony strength, weather conditions, and nectar flow.
- Management of swarms:
- Early detection of swarming tendency.
- Targeted beekeeping measures according to the practical guide.
- Safe capture of departed swarms.
- Note:
- Uncontrolled swarming may lead to honey losses and weakened colonies.
► PDF of the official practical guide (DE)
► Official overview of practical guides (bienen.ch)
Note: Chapter 1.4.6 “Natural Swarm”.
Summary based on Practical Guide 1.4.6. Last review: 01/2026.
Learn more:
- Swarm prevention
- Queen cells
- Practical Guide: 1.4.7 Colony division during swarming tendency
- Free swarm