Canada Agriculture and Food Museum.
  • Home
  • Français
  • Glossary
  • Contact Us
  • Search
Pollination banner.
  • What is a Bee?
  • Pollination
  • Life in a Hive
  • The Beekeeper
  • Activities

The Keeper

  • Why Do We Keep Bees? [+]
  • Types of Beekeepers
  • What Do Beekeepers Do?
  • Checking the Hives (Basic Tools)
    • Hive Inspection video
    • Tools
      • Bee Smoker
      • Hive Tool
      • Bee Brush
      • Bee Suit
      • Frame Rest
    • Health
      • Varroa Mites
      • Foulbrood
      • Colony Collapse Disorder
      • Nosema
      • Feeding
    • Queen Productivity
      • Queen Replacement
    • Swarms
      • Swarm Retrieval
    • Adding Supers
  • Harvesting Honey [+]
  • Protecting the Hive [+]
  • Record Keeping and Maintenance
  • Gathering Information

Next
Page

Once bees have swarmed, they are more concerned about protecting their queen and finding a new home than stinging someone.

Once bees have swarmed, they are more concerned about protecting their queen and finding a new home than stinging someone.
© Ontario Beekeepers' Association, Technology Transfer Program

Next Photo

Once bees have swarmed, they are more concerned about protecting their queen and finding a new home than stinging someone.  A swarm of bees placed on a blanket in front of an empty hive may move into the hive.

Swarm Retrieval

If a colony does swarm, the beekeeper still has a chance to get it back. The colony usually lands within 200 metres from the hive it's left. From there, some worker bees leave the cluster to scout for a new home.

If the beekeeper locates the cluster before the bees have found a permanent home and it's in a safe area in which to work (such as a low tree branch), then he or she can probably retrieve the bees. Bees in a swarm are usually quite calm and easy to work with. The beekeeper can either shake the bees into a box, or cut the branch and place the bees (branch and all) into a box to bring them back to a new home. If the beekeeper places a bedsheet, or anything else that creates a walkway for the bees, in front of the new hive, then the bees should walk into it. The bees from the swarm will then form a new colony.

Next Page

Symbol of the Government of Canada

© Canada Agriculture and Food Museum . All Rights Reserved. Privacy Notice

  • Site Map
  • Credits
  •    
  • Bookmark and Share