- fewer than 8’000 bees
- about 10’000 bees
- more than 15’000 bees
Show the answer
Correct answer: 2.
about 10’000 bees
Why?
The following rule of thumb is often used: 1 kg of bees corresponds to about 10’000 individuals. This figure is an indicative benchmark, useful for quickly estimating the strength of a swarm.
The exact value varies according to the age, physiological state and crop fill of the bees. A worker generally weighs around 80 to 100 mg, but this weight is not constant. In a natural swarm, the bees can also carry honey stores in their honey crop, which influences the total weight.
What to understand
If one makes a simple calculation, 1 kg represents 1’000’000 mg. With a bee of about 100 mg, one obtains about 10’000 bees. With lighter bees, the number can be a little higher.
The queen and the drones are heavier than a worker, but they make up a very small part of the total mass of a swarm. For the practical estimate, one therefore reasons mainly from the average weight of the workers.
This estimate does not replace observation of the swarm's vitality: cohesion of the cluster, presence of the queen, calm behaviour, ability to settle and resumption of activity after rehousing.
What to remember
For a swarm of 1 kg, bearing in mind about 10’000 bees is a good practical approximation.
This figure should, however, be understood as an estimate, not as an exact count.
Further reading
► Astonishing figures about bees
► Biology and physiology of the bee
► Understanding swarming
► Naked swarm