THE OLD HIVE AFTER A SWARM
After the old queen has left with the swarm, the bees have to decide
what to do about a new queen, and the eldest princess is, as we have
already seen, clamouring to be set free from her cell. Although she
gnaws away at the floor of her cell the bees keep her a prisoner, by
piling more wax on the outside of the cell. She is kept thus until
the old queen has got away with the swarm, otherwise there would be a
terrible fight between the rival queens.
However, the bees now decide to set the young princess at liberty, and
two courses are open to them. If the hive has got what is called the
“swarming fever,” the princess will lead a second swarm, for she knows
that in a few days another princess will be born. This second swarm is
called “the cast,” and unlike the first, flies away at once, no matter
what the weather may be, for there is no time to be lost. The cast does
not settle near the hive as the first swarm does, but flies quite away,
and is generally lost to the bee-keeper.
If, as is generally the case, the hive has not got swarming fever,
the bees adopt the princess as their queen. As soon as this course is
decided upon, the bees allow her to visit the cells containing her
rivals, and with savage anger she inserts her sting in each cell and
puts them to death.
During the next few days she wanders about the hive in a restless
fashion, constantly going to the door. After a while she leaves the
hive and flies high up into the air. She is not allowed to go alone,
however, but is followed by numbers of drones. In about an hour’s time
she returns, and the bees know that she is now mated and will remain
quietly in the hive. The hive then resumes its ordinary life, and the
young queen commences to enter upon her new duties. The queen cells are
no longer required, and so they are cut down; the builders set to work
to erect nursery cells in their place, for every available inch of room
will be required by the young queen for laying eggs.
[Illustration: PLATE XXIX
Bees going into a Skep]