I will confess to naivete if necessary, but having been in the beekeeping fraternity for 35 years, it is my understanding that swarming is a natural outcome of colony dynamics in the spring (mostly).  We exploit a bee species which if  it occurred in a natural setting, would have a nest size of approximately 40 L (10.6 gal.Am. or 8.8 gal Imp.), the volume of one standard Langstroth hive body.  Depending on the goal of the beekeeper, colony size is doubled or tripled, by available forage or by feeding.  Swarming is largely a management issue.  There may be an increased propensity of older queens to swarming, but at a time when we are dealing with parasitic mites and disease issues, it would seem that productivity of young queens would be an important part of IPM strategies. 

Respectfully,

Steve Mitchell

Bee Haven Farm
4820 Wilson Rd.
Duncan, BC  V9L 6L6
250-746-9916

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