> > > If I am not mistaken though they swarm out many times a year, year > round?? > I do not think it really matter in terms of total distance travel by a swarm in one season, and this means if the swarm can grow and swarm again. Most probably there is a certain latitudinal/altitudinal gradient in the length of that season > > >My understanding of the bumbles is they work as a family unit until > winter, then the queens hibernate.. so only one jump per season??? My understanding is that most bumbles colonies end the cicle with a big production of virgin queen at peak drone season (usually mid summer). After mating those queens "travel around" for most part of fall, feeding themselves preparing for hybernation. Probably the expansion range of a bumble bee queen is much bigger than that of a swarm of honeybees, however bumble queen survivality and spring new cluster build up is much risky than that of honey bees. *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html