Swarming is a natural way for honey bee colonies to reproduce and expand. When a hive becomes overcrowded, the colony senses an increase in brood pheromones that trigger the workers to raise a new queens by feeding selected larvae a special diet called royal jelly. Before the new queen is emerges, the old queen and about half the workers leave the hive and cluster nearby—often on a fence, shrub, or outdoor furniture within 100 metres of the original hive. This is the first stage of swarming. Next, scout bees search for a suitable nesting site. They identify multiple options and, through a complex collective decision-making process, choose the best one. The swarm then relocates, builds wax comb, and the queen begins laying eggs rapidly to establish the new colony. Swarming usually occurs in spring or early summer when warm weather and abundant food make conditions ideal for colony growth.