A group of bees is called a swarm . The term is usually used with respect to the group whose members leave the hive with the aim of forming a new colony .
Before moving forward with the definition of a swarm, it is advisable to be clear about a series of concepts already mentioned. Bees are flying insects that produce honey and wax . The natural or built space where they live is called a hive, while the delimited territory in which they live is called a colony.
When the colonies are saturated and there is no more space to collect honey or reproduce, a division naturally occurs: swarming. A certain number of bees leave the hive with the queen bee and settle in a nearby place. Then the scout bees are in charge of finding another suitable place to create a new colony. In the original colony, meanwhile, a brand new queen occupies that position and replaces the old queen who migrated in the swarm.
When a beekeeper finds a swarm resting on a plant, it is normal for him to do everything possible to capture it, since in this way he can gain a new colony without investing money. To achieve this objective you must confine the group of bees in a brood chamber or in a nucleus with wax squares, and you can also use sugar syrup.
The time when swarms usually emerge is the period between spring and summer, which is precisely when the population increase described above occurs. Although for an inexperienced person the capture may seem very difficult or even dangerous, for a beekeeper it is nothing more than another activity of his job: he simply hits the bolo or shakes it and all the bees fall into the chamber or the core.
If this container is left in the same place for a time, the trapped bees may call the freed ones to protect the queen; The workers achieve this by using a pheromone through the Nasanoff gland.
For those who do not make a living from beekeeping, a swarm of bees can mean great danger. Therefore, if we find ourselves in the middle of nature, it is important to follow a series of instructions and tips to avoid getting hurt:
* First of all it is recommended not to disturb the bees, since they normally do not attack humans if they do not feel threatened ;
* we must get away from the swarm as soon as possible. If we see that the bees are following us, it is important to cover our face, especially the eyes, mouth and nose;
* finding shelter is the best option if a swarm is chasing us, and a building or a car can be used for this, where it is possible to close the passage hermetically until the bees move away;
* Despite what is promoted in fiction, it is not advisable to submerge yourself in water , since some bees wait for us to come out to attack us.
The idea of swarm has other uses in colloquial language. A swarm is called a gathering of individuals or animals . For example: “A swarm of people gathered at the door of the theater to see the singer up close,” “Be careful with that swarm of dogs,” “There is a swarm in this restaurant, let's go somewhere else.”
In Mexico , there is a dessert known as chocolate swarm , which is usually made by mixing couverture chocolate with corn. You can also add coconut, walnut, amaranth and other ingredients.