2006-09-14 23:20:26 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Swarm does not refer to the number of bees. It's actually bee terminology for describing the weather. Mostly seen in Africanized populations. ie. "It sure bee swarm today."
2006-09-15 03:12:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
A swarm of bees is a *lot* of bees. Not 1, not 10, not even 100. Once you've got to about 1000 (ie, more than you could count) then you have a swarm.
A swarm likes to go into an analogue of its natural habitat - a hollowed-out tree. Ie, a dark enclosed box. My picture shows the most bizarre place I've seen, a swarm in a gas meter enclosure.
Typically, swarms occur in May. The swarm is the hive reproducing itself; about half the bees and the old queen leave to swarm. So a good swarm will be 5,000-20,000 bees.
2006-09-14 23:27:02 · answer #2 · answered by Perkins 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By definition, a swarm of bees can be any number at all, from only a few up to several thousand. The point is that the bees will swarm around a queen bee.
2006-09-14 23:30:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, I think, a swarm has to be the bees that accompany the queen on her flight to find a new home, so the number is just "lots"
However, if there's a lot of 'em, I call them a swarm and keep clear (just in case)
2006-09-14 23:31:31 · answer #4 · answered by PeteB 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
50? 100? 200? Not sure, because the dictionaries online state:
swarm1
noun
1. A large group of flying bees, led by a queen, that have left their hive in order to set up a new home.
2. Any large group of insects or other small creatures, especially ones that are on the move.
3. A crowd of people, especially one that is on the move or that is in chaos.
now what do we consider a LARGE group of insects????
2006-09-14 23:21:12 · answer #5 · answered by Walter W. Krijthe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
However many bee's it takes for you to run away, thats a swarm :)
2006-09-14 23:33:36 · answer #6 · answered by zed 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More than one as far as I'm concerned especially if they are anywhere near me. I must add that I have been stung before and I had an allergic reaction so this excuses my exaggeration when describing a swarm.
2006-09-14 23:31:22 · answer #7 · answered by Valli 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
0-5 = pals
6-15 = gang
16-35 = group
36-100 = major group
101-500 = hive
501-1000 = swarm
Hope this helps
Dr. Bea Keeper
2006-09-15 00:30:07 · answer #8 · answered by Azalian 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
5 or more
2006-09-14 23:22:24 · answer #9 · answered by gjmb1960 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Find a swarm and I dare you to try and count them!
2006-09-14 23:28:10 · answer #10 · answered by Poptartash 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋