[SDCBeeks] Swarming Bees - Urgent

Wed Apr 16 16:00:02 PDT 2025

You can create a swarm box for the ready by using a cardboard box and cutting a fairly large hole in the side and then using number 8 hardware mesh in that hole for ventilation.  When you drop the swarm into the box, just leave a small entrance for all the bees to go in before sealing the top.  If you use topbar hives, I recommend you make some nuc boxes that can hold 12 or so bars.  You can hive them in there while you ready another hive where you’re going to place them.

I have had zero luck hiving a swarm that came from one of my hives in the same apiary from which they swarmed.  They know they haven’t moved and are not likely to stick around the same area.  If you do a split, that’s a different story.  They have not determined on their own that they need to leave, you artificially swarmed them when you do a split.

From: hive <hive-bounces at lists.sdcbeeks.org> On Behalf Of John Harvey
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 4:25 PM
To: Mark J. Sommer <msommer at somware.com>
Cc: hive at lists.sdcbeeks.org
Subject: Re: [SDCBeeks] Swarming Bees - Urgent

Just beginning here as well.  Good Luck Gary and thank you for the procedure Mark.

John

On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 4:21 PM Mark J. Sommer <msommer at somware.com <mailto:msommer at somware.com> > wrote:

Punch some breath holes into a cardboard box big enough to hold the swarm. Drop them in there off the branch they’re on. Make sure you get the queen. Leave the box cracked open a bit and let them rest follow the queen in. They will almost all go in. Seal them up so they can’t get out. They can stay there while you get a give box (not more than overnight). Keep them out of the sun and make sure the have ventilation, but can’t escape.

Give them somewhere fairly far away from your current apiary. The likelihood that they stay nearby the old nest is slim - that’s why they swarmed.

If you’re using Langston hives, you can get one at Big R. Top bar, you’ll have to find someone to lend or sell you one.

~Mark
505-480-3157

> On Apr 16, 2025, at 3:31 PM, Gary Looft <glooft at mac.com <mailto:glooft at mac.com> > wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> First-year beekeeper here, and just a few hours ago I found my hive swarming, and they’ve settled in a nearby tree. From what I’ve read, I can attempt to capture this swarm in a nuc box, leave them overnight, and introduce them into a new broodbox and keep them. I’m not 100% sure though, and don’t know where to get a broodbox in such short notice. Any advice/knowledge where to pick one up, and how long I have to do this?
> 
> Thank you
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