In a message dated 97-01-21 12:04:43 EST, [log in to unmask] (Hussein
Sanchez-Arroyo) writes:
 
<< If you know or have information about the largest swarm (hopefully with a
 supporting reference), please send the information directly to me or post it
 to the list if you think your nomination is of general interest.  I will
 acknowledge all substantive help in the final version of the chapter. >>
 
    Here in South Carolina whole yards tend to want to swarm at once,
especially if they have been heavily fed.  Two or more swarms may hang on the
same limb, and often merge together.
 
    In the days before mites they sometimes were huge.  A friend and I hived
one such swarm (my guestimate: almost 2 bushels) that covered a five-foot
shrub and the ground around it.  I know we used several hives; if I recall
correctly it was 4.
 
   We did not have any way to count workers and drones, but we were counting
queens, and I'm sure we did not see all of them.  At any rate we DID see 3
mated queens and 21 virgins. Most of the virgins we saved and added to nucs,
though we were unable to catch every one.
 
   Apparently the instinct to fight is not present in the queens while bees
are swarming.
 
[log in to unmask]    Dave Green,  PO Box 1200,  Hemingway,  SC
29554        (Dave & Jan's Pollination Service,  Pot o'Gold Honey Co.)
 
Practical Pollination Home Page            Dave & Janice Green
http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html
 
Jan's Sweetness and Light         Varietal Honeys and Gift Sets
http://users.aol.com/SweetnessL/sweetlit.htm