When you keep a wild bee swarm, you provide a new hive for the transient bees. They, in turn, build up your bee population increasing pollination and higher yields of honey extraction. Read on to learn why bees swarm and how to capture one for your homestead.
Why We Keep Bees
Having honey bees is so important for our agricultural existence. Bees can travel for miles to get nectar back to their hives. I think that’s where the term “busy bees” originated.
As pollinators, bees have an essential role in the world, and we want to respect that role by doing our part to keep them active and healthy.
Here in Oklahoma, we live in a very hot environment, and water is key for the bees’ survival. In addition to providing wild bees a place for a new hive, we made a bee watering system that keeps them hydrated.
We are grateful for the work the bees do for us and enjoy the benefits of extracting honey each fall. We taught our kids the value of the honey bee and all the healthy things we get from honey, including the benefits for those with seasonal allergies. My daughter thinks that’s pretty cool.
Beekeepers have many ways of accomplishing different jobs concerning beekeeping; I like to say you could ask two of your local beekeepers the same question and get three answers.
These varied answers are often due to the many factors that play into beekeeping, such as neighboring environments, bee sting phobias or tolerances, climate, and natural bee predators.
As we enjoy our experience with beekeeping, we are by no means experts. But we’ve done our research, had some trial and error, and asked a lot of questions. We encourage you to do the same.
Why Bees Swarm
A bee colony will break into two colonies in spring or early summer if it becomes too large.
Before leaving the hive, the existing queen will lay eggs in queen cells. After laying her eggs, she leaves the hive to find a new home, taking about half the workers with her.
They usually don’t swarm far from the hive and most likely will find a tree branch or even the eave of a house or barn to rest as the scout bees (or worker bees) find a suitable place to build a new hive.
As the scouts are out and about, the rest of the workers collect around the queen to protect her from predators. It’s incredible how well they work together, protecting the queen and forming another colony.
Disadvantages of a Bee Swarm
A bee swarm is necessary for bee colonies to reproduce and remain viable. However, for beekeepers, a swarm can mean the loss of 50% of their bee population in one swarm.
If your bee colony swarms, it’s important to have the right equipment on hand so that capturing a swarm and returning them to a brood box is possible.
Supplies Needed
- Protective Bee Suit With Gloves – Multiple bee stings can be dangerous even if you’re not allergic to bees. I recommend investing in proper safety equipment.
- Ladder – Sturdy and one that will reach the height needed safely.
- Large Drop Cloth – A sheet also works well. Make sure it’s big enough to cover the area under the swarm.
- Bee Brush – Helps to brush the bees from the drop cloth into the box.
- Chain Saw or Pruning Shears – You may need to trim off branches to reach the swarm. Caution: Chainsaws are a dangerous tool if you don’t have experience, especially on a ladder. Best to get someone to help you if needed.
- Nuc Box – Used to catch a swarm and hold them until transferred to the brood box. Some say a cardboard box can work in a pinch, but I haven’t tried this method.
- Brood Box – Build one or buy one to transfer the swarm as a permanent hive.
Capturing a Bee Swarm Step-by-Step
- Once you have identified a bee swarm, gather your supplies and put on your protective gear. Keeping yourself safe and calm first is critical.
- If the swarm is up in a tree or on the eave of a building, spread the drop cloth or sheet on the ground under the swarm. If the swarm is on the ground, skip to step #5.
- Set the nuc box on the drop cloth directly under the swarm, and set up your ladder on flat ground.
- If necessary, trim branches from the tree so the swarm will have a direct line to drop from the tree to the nuc box.
- Using the bee brush, gently sweep the swarm into the nuc box. Once you have the queen, the workers and scouts will follow her scent. Pro Tip: Wait patiently for the bees to follow the queen’s pheromones. Leave the box in one place so that she is easy for the other bees to find. The scouts are usually the last to enter, which can take up to an hour or two. While you wait, you can set up your brood box for the new hive.
- Once you are confident the swarm is in the nuc box, move it over to the brood box.
- Remove the frames from the nuc box, and place them into the brood box.
- Gently pour the remaining bees into the box, using the bee brush if necessary.
- Secure the brood box lid. Pro-Tip: You can use a heavy rock to weigh it down.
Now that you know how to catch a bee swarm, you can keep your eye out for them near your home, or if your own colony divides.
