What is cyclic swarming in honeybees?

Cyclic swarming refers to a natural reproductive process in honeybee colonies, where a portion of the colony, typically including the queen and many worker bees, leaves the original hive to establish a new colony. This phenomenon is part of the honeybee's life cycle and is crucial for maintaining genetic diversity and colony health. During this process, the original colony may prepare for swarming by raising new queens, signaling that a division is imminent as they outgrow their current environment.

In contrast, the other options describe different behaviors and activities of honeybees. For example, the process of bees dancing to communicate is a well-studied behavior known as the "waggle dance," used by bees to indicate the direction and distance of food sources. Collecting nectar for honey production is another vital task performed by worker bees but refers specifically to foraging rather than the reproductive process of swarming. Lastly, defending the hive from predators involves various strategies, including using pheromones and physical defense, but does not relate to the cyclical aspect of colony reproduction that characterizes cyclic swarming.