Does late, cold, wet spring push back swarm season?

[gardeningfireman]

NE Ohio is having a late, cold, and wet spring(if you can even call it spring!). How does that affect the swarming season? Normally here it is during May.

[Michael Bush]

It may push it back, but bees can bounce back pretty quickly.  I wouldn't count too much on it.

[Kathyp]

it does.  the only swarm  call i have gotten has come from southern Oregon.  i usually have them as soon as there is a warm day in march.  there were no warm days in march this year or last :-)

if this year follows last, swarm season will hit with a furry as soon as it warms/quits raining just a little.

[BMAC]

maples here just started blooming a week ago.  Swarm activity far out of my future.  Well not really.  Probably only 4 weeks out.

[Scadsobees]

Last year I had a swarm already by this time.  This year?  Nodda chance!! :roll:

So yes, it will push them back.

[Michael Bach]

Two spring/summers ago we had a cold wet spring and summer.  The result was a delayed swarm season.  The the bees demise there was a lot of swarms in August and September.

Last spring summer was warm to hot.  Mid April we had 12-16 frames of brood.  Swarms were in mid may.  A good 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule.

This spring is cold and wet and most hives have only 5-9 frames of brood.

Remember bees swarm when the conditions are the best.  Lots of pollen and nectar resulting in the queen to lay more.  Less natural pollen and nectar and the queen lays less.