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How does a honeybee colony reproduce by swarming?

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Bumblebee pollination — Hymenoptera An endangered rusty patched bumblebee (*Bombus affinis*) browsing on a wild bergamot flower.

Swarming is the natural method by which a honeybee colony propagates and increases its population.12

When a hive becomes overcrowded and lacks sufficient space for the queen to lay eggs, worker bees initiate the process by selecting several larvae to develop into new queens. These larvae are fed exclusively with royal jelly, and their cells are enlarged to accommodate their development.12

Shortly before these new queens emerge, the mother queen departs the hive with a large portion of the worker bees—typically numbering between 5,000 and 25,000. This swarm settles in a tight cluster on a temporary site, such as a tree branch, while scout bees search for a suitable new home. Once a location is found, the swarm relocates to establish a new colony.12

Back in the original hive, the first virgin queen to emerge typically destroys the remaining queen cells or rivals. After a mating flight, she assumes the role of the new queen, ensuring the continuation of the parent colony.2