What is swarm behavior in honeybees?

Swarm behavior in honeybees refers specifically to the phenomenon where a group of bees leaves their original hive to establish a new colony. This behavior typically occurs when a hive has become overcrowded and the queen bee and a portion of the worker bees depart to find a new location. The process involves several steps, starting with the queen laying fewer eggs, followed by the workers preparing the hive for swarming. This process is a natural method of reproduction for bee colonies and is essential for maintaining healthy population dynamics within the species.

The other choices, while related to bee activities, do not define swarm behavior. Gathering nectar pertains to foraging, defensive behaviors relate to protecting the hive, and mating flights describe the reproductive process but do not involve colony movement. Thus, the action of leaving the hive to form a new colony is the hallmark of swarm behavior.