What percentage of adult bees typically leave with the old queen during a swarm?

When a swarm occurs, it is a natural process in which a colony of bees reproduces itself. During this event, the old queen leaves the hive with a substantial number of worker bees to establish a new colony. Research indicates that typically, about 50-60% of the adult bees will accompany the old queen. The choice indicating up to 60% accurately reflects this behavior, acknowledging the large proportion of bees that participate in swarming.

In this context, the percentage represents both the need for the new colony to sustain itself successfully and the instinct of the worker bees to protect and support their queen. This high percentage of bees leaving ensures that the new colony has enough forager bees to gather resources and begin building their new home effectively. The choice that states up to 60% captures this aspect of swarming behavior and illustrates the dynamics of hive reproduction in honeybee colonies.