swarming

biology

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July 14, 2026

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In biology, "swarming" refers to the movement of animals in large numbers. This can be seen in locusts, where gregarious individuals migrate in destructive swarms. Honeybees also swarm when their colony becomes overcrowded, with the queen departing with a portion of the workers to establish a new hive. Termites engage in swarming through winged adults, known as alates, which disperse to found new colonies. Additionally, birds may swarm around grass fires to capture animals fleeing the flames. The term can also describe any situation where something is filled or moves in great numbers, such as a resort teeming with students.12345

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beekeeping
Swarming
When the colony becomes crowded with adult bees and there are insufficient cells in which the queen can lay large numbers of eggs, the worker bees select a dozen or so tiny larvae that would otherwise develop into worker bees. These larvae are fed…
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When the colony becomes crowded with adult bees and there are insufficient cells in which the queen can lay large numbers of eggs, the worker bees select a dozen or so tiny larvae that would otherwise develop into worker bees. These larvae are fed…
Read More

locust
…migrate long distances in destructive swarms. In Europe the term locust denotes large acridids, whereas smaller species are called grasshoppers. In North America the names locust and grasshopper are used for any acridid. Cicadas (order Homoptera) also may be called locusts, the 17-year “locust” being the 17-year periodic cicada. The…
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…migrate long distances in destructive swarms. In Europe the term locust denotes large acridids, whereas smaller species are called grasshoppers. In North America the names locust and grasshopper are used for any acridid. Cicadas (order Homoptera) also may be called locusts, the 17-year “locust” being the 17-year periodic cicada. The…
Read More

termite
Swarming
A new termite colony normally is founded by dispersion of winged adults (alates), which usually develop in a mature colony during certain seasons of the year. After molting into winged adults, alates group themselves in special chambers near the periphery of the nest for…
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A new termite colony normally is founded by dispersion of winged adults (alates), which usually develop in a mature colony during certain seasons of the year. After molting into winged adults, alates group themselves in special chambers near the periphery of the nest for…
Read More