Unknown insect swarm above trees

[devs2008]

Hi,

Wondered if anyone knew what these insects were which I watched this afternoon. At first I thought it was smoke trails but noticed how quickly they were changing shape. They seemed to prefer the '45 degree angle' cloud when the wind dropped. I read a post on the Natural History Museum forum which suggested "Chironomids"?? Apologies for the not so great photos
Mike G.

[Beekeeper]

I reckon you have photographed a swarm of bees, lovely sight.


Ian

[triops]

Hi,

Looking like smoke and changing shape, a cloud of male Chironomids advertising for females. Almost certainly a lake or river beyond the trees.

[devs2008]

Thanks folks, this was in the town centre area of Gosport so although there wasn't any water that close, Forton Lake and Portsmouth Harbour aren't too far away I initially thought bee swarm (as Kate Humble on Springwatch had mentioned now's the time that they're prone to be doing it) but then the same swarms could be seen at the top of a LOT of trees over some distance. If it happens again, I'll nip out and see if I can hear buzzing ! Thanks again for your comments.
Mike G.

[Wildwill94]

hi there,
i have seen this before it could either be males displaying, or if the queen be has left the hive, which does happen then all the workers will come out. mostly because they panic.

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Wildwill94

hi there,
i have seen this before it could either be males displaying, or if the queen be has left the hive, which does happen then all the workers will come out. mostly because they panic.

The male bees (Drone's) only number in a few hundred at most and they do not display, the only reasons they leave the hive is--
A for excercise
B to defecate
C to mate with the queen.

Worker bees leave the hive with the queen not because they panic, far from it, but for the purposes of establishing a new colony elsewhere, its their way of populating new territory and thus expanding the species.

As a matter of interest, the worker bees dictate to the queen when the time is right to swarm and often the majority will vacate the hive long before the queen, in fact some times she does not leave the hive at all which forces the worker bees to return home and wait usually until the next day unless the weather turns bad.


Ian

[Wildwill94]

well that told me. haha. Cheers for the information though.

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Wildwill94

well that told me. haha. Cheers for the information though.

You are welcome and don't worry we all make mistakes, in my case lots and there is always some kind WAB member willing to put me right, which i appreciate as it is the only way to learn, some of the folk here are experts in various fields unlike me, a mere amateur.


Ian

[Wildwill94]

haha. This is true. cheers