When spring rolls around, many overpopulated beehives will send out half the colony to create a new hive on their own. When searching for their new hive, they form a swarm and attach themselves somewhere, usually a tree branch, while scout bees go search for a new hive. Unfortunately, this swarm sometimes ends up in someone’s yard or around their house. If this happens to you, it’s important to contact swarm capture experts like Animal Remover. We come to your location and safely remove and relocate the swarm. But how does swarm capture work? Today in the Animal Remover blog we’ll go over some common methods of swarm capture.
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How Swarm Capture Works
To successfully perform a swarm capture, the swarm must be moved from their current location to a hive that they’ll stay at. This is only possible if the queen is captured. The queen is mixed into the swarm with the rest of the bees, and the other bees will be drawn to her. The easiest method of swarm capture is putting the bees into a breathable cardboard or wood box. Depending on where the swarm is, the method of capture will vary.
If the branch is small enough to cut, you can simply hold onto the branch tightly, hold onto the branch, and carry the entire swarm to the box. The bees are amazingly docile when they’re in a swarm, so typically this transfer is easily done, as long as you are gentle and treading lightly when moving them.
If the branch isn’t small enough to cut, or if they’re not even on a branch, the method will be a bit different. You may have to spray the bees with a mist of water to prevent flight, and then use a bee brush to scoop them into the box. It’s also possible to shake a branch to get them into the box. With this method, it’s important to make sure you get the queen scooped in. If the bees start flying out of the box, back to where they were swarming, then you know that you’ve missed the queen.
After the swarm capture is complete, it’s a good idea to leave the box slightly open near the swarm location for a while. This way the scout bees will be able to reunite with their swarm before they’re relocated to the new hive.
Related Post: Identify the Hive Before Contacting Swarm Capture Services
Leave Swarm Capture to the Professionals
Swarm capture can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing. You’re also in danger of harming yourself or the bees if you make a mistake. You also risk having the swarm return if you do it wrong. That’s why it’s best to contact a professional if you see a swarm around your house. Contact Animal Remover today for all of your honey bee removal needs.
