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Bee Swarm

Once or twice a year thousands of wild bees swarm and clump together in an old growth grove on the rural central coast property where we live. This year a clump of bees (about 10" x 15") remained on a monterey pine limb for over 48 hours -- the bees are gentle-natured and we were able to walk up close and take digital photos. Are all these bees in the process of establishing a new hive and following a new queen bee?

Wildlife Expert - David Herlocker

Yes, swarming is a result of a queen leaving a large colony to start another. While the clump of worker bees (with the queen buried at the center) waits, scouts seek out a suitable location to establish a new hive. You must have an extremely prolific wild hive nearby.

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species:

Honey Bee
Apis mellifera

    
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