In a message dated 09/08/03 05:03:14 GMT Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< Invariably a stressed plant would bloom at the wrong time, and I wonder if
 the bees are doing the same.  I captured a few late swarms to use as nucs,
 but their timing is really weird since there is very little flow before
 goldenrods.  Have you observed an increased swarming activity during
 drought? >>

Yoon,

We in the UK have had a second swarmy year and I believe that it is connected
with uncertain weather.  In our case rain confining bees to the hive and in
your case drought so there are no flowers producing nectar. In both cases to
effect is the same.  The bees that should be foraging are hanging around the
hive.  They are safe there so they are not being picked off by all the wildlife
that eats bees and they aren't working themselves to death.  Assuming that you
don't have one of the economical strains that shuts down brood rearing in
adverse conditions the hive population will be increasing much more quickly than
normal because the older bees are not dying. This leads to rapid congestion in
the hive, breakdown in queen pheromene distribution and swarming at the first
opportunity.

The solution is to add supers, not to hold mythical nectar but to hold the
surplus bees.  If you can hold them together until the nectar flows again you
will have a massive foraging force to take advantage of it.

Chris

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