essaim

An essaim is a French term that translates to "swarm" in English. It most commonly refers to a swarm of bees. When a bee colony outgrows its hive, the queen bee will depart with a large number of worker bees to establish a new colony. This mass departure is known as swarming. Swarming is a natural process of reproduction for honeybee colonies.

The formation of an essaim is a critical event for the survival of a bee species. It allows for the expansion of bee populations and the establishment of new territories. The bees in an essaim typically gather temporarily on a nearby object, such as a tree branch or a fence post, while scout bees search for a suitable new location for a permanent hive. This resting phase can last for a few hours or even a couple of days. During this time, the swarm is generally docile as the bees are focused on finding a new home.

While the term essaim is primarily associated with bees, it can also be used more generally to describe a large, moving group of insects, such as locusts or ants, or even a dense gathering of birds or other animals. However, its most frequent and specific application remains with honeybee colonies during their reproductive swarming. Beekeepers often capture swarms to start new hives or to increase the number of colonies they manage.