[f. SWARM v.1 + -ER1.]

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  1.  One of a number that swarm; one of a swarm (as of insects); in Biol. a swarm-spore.

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1844.  Dickens, Mart. Chuz., lii. ‘Oh, vermin!’ said Mr. Pecksniff. ‘Oh, bloodsuckers!… vermin and swarmers.’

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1872.  J. G. Murphy, Comm. Lev. xi. 20. Winged creepers or swarmers are so called from their minuteness and their multitude.

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1898.  H. M. Ward, in Ann. Bot., XII. 301. The obvious suspicion arose that an intruding swarmer had got into my hanging-drop.

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1900.  Nature, 21 June, 191/1. The beetles are late swarmers, appearing chiefly in July.

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  2.  A bee-hive adapted for swarming, or from which a swarm is sent forth.

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1855.  Poultry Chron., III. 300/1. I have found hives in which the combs ranged in the way most common, from front to back, indifferently swarmers or non-swarmers.

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1883.  in Standard, 15 Feb., 5/2. ‘Artificial swarmers’ … have displaced the old-fashioned ‘skep.’

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