May is one of the busiest and most dramatic months inside a bee hive in the UK. Colonies are expanding fast, flowers are abundant, and the hive is focused on growth and reproduction.

Here’s what’s usually happening:

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Population boom

The queen is laying thousands of eggs per day. The colony grows rapidly as spring nectar and pollen become plentiful.

Inside the hive you’ll find:

• Eggs

• Larvae being fed by nurse bees

• Sealed brood ready to hatch

• Huge numbers of young worker bees emerging daily

 

A strong hive can jump from a few thousand bees in early spring to 40,000–60,000+ by late May.

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Heavy nectar and pollen collection

Worker bees are flying constantly to gather food from:

• Hawthorn

• Apple blossom

• Oilseed rape

• Horse chestnut

• Dandelions

• Bluebells and garden flowers

 

They bring:

• Nectar → turned into honey

• Pollen → protein for raising brood

• Water → cooling the hive

• Propolis → sealing gaps

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Wax building

Young bees produce wax and build fresh honeycomb quickly during May because nectar is flowing strongly.

You may see:

• Bright white new comb

• Expanded brood nest

• Honey storage areas filling up

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Swarming season begins

This is the biggest event in May.

 

When the hive becomes crowded, the colony prepares to reproduce by swarming:

• Queen cells are built

• The old queen slims down for flight

• Worker bees gorge on honey

• About half the colony may leave with the old queen

 

The remaining bees raise a new queen.

 

Typical signs:

• Large numbers of drones

• Queen cells hanging from comb edges

• Increased buzzing and congestion near the entrance

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Drones appear

Male bees (drones) are produced in large numbers during May because queens from different colonies will soon need to mate.

Drones:

• Do not forage

• Are fed by workers

• Spend time flying to drone congregation areas waiting for virgin queens

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Intense communication

The hive becomes very active socially:

• Waggle dances direct foragers to flowers

• Pheromones coordinate colony behavior

• Scouts search for swarm nesting sites

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