03/01/2026
Excellent information
I received two great questions from two followers today — so let’s tackle them both right here.
1) “It seems like my bees want to swarm even when they’re not overcrowded. Do some bees swarm less? Mine are Italians.”
-YES!
What you’re seeing can absolutely be genetics, not space — and Italian bees are well known for having a strong swarm impulse.
Italian colonies build fast. Queens lay hard and early, populations explode in spring, and colonies can feel “swarmy” even when there’s still room to grow. A strong brood nest, rising nectar, and longer days are often enough to trigger swarm behavior — overcrowding isn’t required.
Some lines do tend to swarm less, including Carniolans, Buckfast, and certain local survivor stocks, but no honey bee is swarm-proof. Swarming is reproduction — not a management failure.
What many people miss is that swarming is driven more by brood pheromone balance, queen age and pheromone output, and genetic thresholds than by space alone.
2) “I’m worried my bees could suffocate if the snow gets too deep.”
-This is a very common winter worry — and the good news is snow itself does not suffocate bees.
Snow is porous and allows air exchange. In fact, many colonies overwinter better under snow because it blocks wind, stabilizes temperature, and acts as natural insulation.
The real risks in winter are blocked ventilation, moisture buildup dripping onto the cluster, and entrances sealed by ice, not snow.
Bee Haven 2026
As the old saying goes:
“Cold bees live. Wet bees die.”
Make sure your hive has an moisture escape, avoid opening the hive in winter, and don’t panic-clear snow during storms. If the bees are alive, they manage their own airflow.
Great questions — and exactly the kind of conversations that help us all become better beekeepers. 🐝
