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Swarm Season in New Jersey - Late April through June
A swarm in may is worth a bale of hay,
A swarm in june is worth a silver spoon,
A swarm in july isn't worth a fly!
This swarm was reported by professional photographer Harry Hillard. He heard an incredible humming outside on April 15, 2008 at about 12:30 p.m. and thought there was a downed power line outside his Bridgewater home. Looking outside, he saw the incredible sight of a broad swarm of bees circling. Within minutes, they had covered the mailbox. By 5:30 p.m. they were gone except for a few dozen stragglers, who disappeared by the next day. Beekeeper Robert Simonofsky missed collecting the swarm by about 15 minutes.
Typically, a swarm can take from a few hours to a few days to find an appropriate new location. However, sometimes they are unsuccessful. According to Dr. Dewey Caron, author of "Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping", new colonies established from swarms have a survival rate of less than 25% in the wild. If it survives the first winter season, it can live five years or more. Beekeeper-hived swarms managed well should survive with few problems.
If you live in New Jersey and have a swarm you would like to remove, please send an email to swarms@njbeekeepers.org, or find a beekeeper near you who removes swarms by clicking here.
(Photo
by Harry Hillard)
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