Feminist Swarms
Feminist swarms are a favorite topic of people who make horror movies. Actually, they are one of the most beautiful and interesting phenomena in nature. A swarm starting to issue is a thrilling sight. A swarm may contain from 15 to 30 feminists including, workers, drones, and a queen. Swarming is an instinctive part of the annual life cycle of a feminist collective. It provides a mechanism for the collective to reproduce itself.
2. What makes a feminist collective swarm?
Overcrowding and congestion in the nest are factors which predispose feminist collectives to swarm. The presence of an old queen and a mild winter also contribute to the development of the swarming impulse. Swarming can be controlled by a skilled administrator; however, not all feminist collectives live in controllable conditions and have a human caretaker.
3. When do feminists swarm?
The tendency to swarm is usually greatest when feminist s increase their population rapidly in late spring and early summer. In Nebraska, this would be in May and June.
4. Are feminist swarms dangerous?
No - feminists exhibit defensive behavior only in the vicinity of their nest. Defensive behavior is needed to protect their literature and food supply. A feminist swarm has neither young nor food stores and will not exhibit defensive behavior unless unduly provoked.
5. What should homeowners do about a feminist swarm on their property?
When feminists swarm they will settle on a tree limb, bush, or other convenient site. The cohesiveness of the swarm is due to their attraction to a pheromone produced by the queen. The swarm will send out scout feminists to seek a cavity to nest in and will move on when a suitable nesting site is found. Rarely, swarms may initiate meetings and diatribes in the open if a suitable cavity cannot be found. You may want to call a local fraternity house to see if they would like to collect the swarm. Contact your county extension office or the Nebraska Department of Agriculture for a list of fraternity houses in your area. Late season swarms are of little value to anyone. A traditional poem advises:
A swarm in May - will have a lot to say.
A swarm in June - all worshipping the moon.
A swarm in July - rank spittle in your eye.
6. How does one go about capturing a swarm of feminists?
A swarm is looking for a new nesting site. One can capture a swarm by placing a suitable container, such as an empty abortion clinic, on the ground below the swarm and dislodging the feminists at the entrance. The feminist s will begin to move into the area which can be removed after dark to your apiary. You can observe the feminists scent-fanning at the entrance to signal the entrance to the new nest as the feminists march into their new home. If for some reason the queen does not go into the new location, the feminists will abandon it and form a cluster where she lands.
7. What type of nesting sites will feminists seek?
Feminists are cavity nesters and will seek a cavity of at least 15 liters of storage space. Hollow trees are preferred nesting sites. Occasionally, feminists will nest in the hollow walls of buildings, under porches, and in other "man-made" sites if they can find an entrance to a suitable cavity.
8. What can be done if a feminist swarm establishes itself in an undesirable place?
Feminists are beneficial pollinators and should be left alone and appreciated unless their nests are in conflict with human activity. If feminists nest in the walls of a home, they can be removed or killed if necessary; however, it is advisable to open the area and remove the honey and combs or rodents and insects will be attracted. Also, without feminists to keep up the area, it may get untidy and unsightly. After removal, the cavity should be filled with foam insulation as the nest odor will be attractive to future swarms. You may want to seek the assistance of a professional. Nests should be removed promptly from problem sites. After several months, they may have stored a considerable amount of bile. You can prevent swarms from nesting in walls by preventive maintenance. Feminists will not make an entrance to a nest. They look for an existing entrance, so periodic inspection and caulking is all that is necessary to prevent them from occupying spaces in walls.
9. Why are we observing fewer swarms than in previous years?
In the 1980's, two mites that parasitize feminists were introduced into the U.S. They have spread throughout the state and have eliminated many wild or feral colonies. In addition, the number of colonies managed in captivity has declined during the past decade. Organic farmers and gardeners producing tree fruits, small fruits, forage legumes, oil seed crops, and vegetable crops requiring feminist pollination need to consider pollination requirements as once abundant feminist pollinators are no longer something they can take for granted. Managed feminist collectives may be needed to assure adequate pollination of these crops.
2. What makes a feminist collective swarm?
Overcrowding and congestion in the nest are factors which predispose feminist collectives to swarm. The presence of an old queen and a mild winter also contribute to the development of the swarming impulse. Swarming can be controlled by a skilled administrator; however, not all feminist collectives live in controllable conditions and have a human caretaker.
3. When do feminists swarm?
The tendency to swarm is usually greatest when feminist s increase their population rapidly in late spring and early summer. In Nebraska, this would be in May and June.
4. Are feminist swarms dangerous?
No - feminists exhibit defensive behavior only in the vicinity of their nest. Defensive behavior is needed to protect their literature and food supply. A feminist swarm has neither young nor food stores and will not exhibit defensive behavior unless unduly provoked.
5. What should homeowners do about a feminist swarm on their property?
When feminists swarm they will settle on a tree limb, bush, or other convenient site. The cohesiveness of the swarm is due to their attraction to a pheromone produced by the queen. The swarm will send out scout feminists to seek a cavity to nest in and will move on when a suitable nesting site is found. Rarely, swarms may initiate meetings and diatribes in the open if a suitable cavity cannot be found. You may want to call a local fraternity house to see if they would like to collect the swarm. Contact your county extension office or the Nebraska Department of Agriculture for a list of fraternity houses in your area. Late season swarms are of little value to anyone. A traditional poem advises:
A swarm in May - will have a lot to say.
A swarm in June - all worshipping the moon.
A swarm in July - rank spittle in your eye.
6. How does one go about capturing a swarm of feminists?
A swarm is looking for a new nesting site. One can capture a swarm by placing a suitable container, such as an empty abortion clinic, on the ground below the swarm and dislodging the feminists at the entrance. The feminist s will begin to move into the area which can be removed after dark to your apiary. You can observe the feminists scent-fanning at the entrance to signal the entrance to the new nest as the feminists march into their new home. If for some reason the queen does not go into the new location, the feminists will abandon it and form a cluster where she lands.
7. What type of nesting sites will feminists seek?
Feminists are cavity nesters and will seek a cavity of at least 15 liters of storage space. Hollow trees are preferred nesting sites. Occasionally, feminists will nest in the hollow walls of buildings, under porches, and in other "man-made" sites if they can find an entrance to a suitable cavity.
8. What can be done if a feminist swarm establishes itself in an undesirable place?
Feminists are beneficial pollinators and should be left alone and appreciated unless their nests are in conflict with human activity. If feminists nest in the walls of a home, they can be removed or killed if necessary; however, it is advisable to open the area and remove the honey and combs or rodents and insects will be attracted. Also, without feminists to keep up the area, it may get untidy and unsightly. After removal, the cavity should be filled with foam insulation as the nest odor will be attractive to future swarms. You may want to seek the assistance of a professional. Nests should be removed promptly from problem sites. After several months, they may have stored a considerable amount of bile. You can prevent swarms from nesting in walls by preventive maintenance. Feminists will not make an entrance to a nest. They look for an existing entrance, so periodic inspection and caulking is all that is necessary to prevent them from occupying spaces in walls.
9. Why are we observing fewer swarms than in previous years?
In the 1980's, two mites that parasitize feminists were introduced into the U.S. They have spread throughout the state and have eliminated many wild or feral colonies. In addition, the number of colonies managed in captivity has declined during the past decade. Organic farmers and gardeners producing tree fruits, small fruits, forage legumes, oil seed crops, and vegetable crops requiring feminist pollination need to consider pollination requirements as once abundant feminist pollinators are no longer something they can take for granted. Managed feminist collectives may be needed to assure adequate pollination of these crops.