- Overcrowding: When a hive becomes too crowded, the queen bee will leave with a swarm of worker bees to find a new home. This typically occurs in the spring or summer when the hive population is at its peak.
- Lack of food: If there is not enough food available for the hive, the queen bee may decide to lead a swarm in search of a new location with more abundant resources. This can happen at any time of year, but it is most common in the late summer or fall when food sources are starting to dwindle.
- Disease or pests: If the hive is affected by disease or pests, the queen bee may lead a swarm to escape the unhealthy environment. This can happen at any time of year, but it is most common in the spring or summer when the hive is most vulnerable to attack.
- Weather: While bees may become more agitated or restless before a storm, it is not true that they always swarm before a storm. Bees will typically only swarm if the conditions are right, regardless of the weather.
So, while bees may swarm for a variety of reasons, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that they always swarm before a storm.