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Belling - Do loud noises induce bee swarms to cluster?
by Elwyn
| Have you heard of the practice of belling relating to collection of a bee swarm. The query relates to a piece of family research where my grandparent (in 1926 in the UK) was following this practice when the swarm alighted on her. Thanks Elwyn |
Hi Elwyn
I thought I'd heard something like this before but had trouble finding anything. However I did find this in "Bee-keeping Explained", by M. Quinby published in 1853
Some of my neighboring bee-keepers lose a quarter or half of their swarms by flight, and how do they manage? When the word is given out, "Bees swarming," a tin-horn, tin-pan, bells, or anything to make a "horrible din," is seized upon in the hurry of the moment, and as much noise made as possible, to make them cluster; (which they naturally would do without the music, at least all mine have.
This probably gave rise to the opinion of one old lady, who knew "drumming on a pan did good, for she had tried it.") Very often a hive is to be constructed, or an old one unfit to use any way, needs some sticks across, or something to take time.
When the hive is obtained, it must be washed with something nice to make the bees like it; a little honey must be daubed on the inside; sugar and water, molasses and water, salt and water, or salt and water rubbed on with hickory leaves, "is the best thing in the world;" several other things are just as good, and some are better. Even whisky, that bane of man, has been offered them as a bribe to stay, and sometimes they are persuaded and go to work.
Another piece in "Gleanings in Bee Culture" for January 1950 says;
When a swarm issues it is not necessary to ring bells or beat tin pans as was formerly done in order to induce the bees to settle. So far as can be determined, such a procedure has no effect whatever upon the swarming bees.
There is a possibility that the bees do not hear ordinary sounds heard by human beings. Cadwallader Washburn, Livermore Falls, Maine found that bees apparently pay no attention to sounds from a loud speaker.
I think I'll fore-go the bells and tin pans and just wait for swarms to settle and cluster naturally.
The Bee Guy
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