Colony division (swarming) is a natural method of reproduction in honey bees, Apis mellifera L. It also represents a potential economic loss for beekeepers, and management practices have been devised to reduce its incidence. Simpson (1957) estimated that in an average year 10-40% of the colonies in a commercial apiary will swarm if left unattended.
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Burgett et al. (1974) studied this question.
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