A honey bee swarm occurs when a portion of an established colony, including the old queen, leaves the original hive to find a new home. This phenomenon often occurs in the spring, resulting in a temporary cluster of thousands of bees while scout bees search for a permanent cavity. A swarm trap is a temporary, artificial housing structure designed to intercept these migrating swarms, acting as an attractive decoy. Traps prevent swarms from establishing themselves in undesirable locations, such as within the walls of a home, and provide beekeepers with a method to acquire new colonies.
The Role of Swarm Traps in Beekeeping
Beekeepers use swarm traps primarily for two reasons: swarm control and apiary expansion. Placing traps in strategic locations mitigates the risk of swarms becoming a nuisance in residential areas or finding a home in an inaccessible space like a chimney. This practice turns a potential problem for homeowners into a positive outcome for the beekeeper.
The traps capitalize on the scout bees’ task of locating a suitable, secure cavity for the entire swarm. When a swarm occupies a trap, it represents a successful interception of a wild colony that would otherwise have settled elsewhere. Capturing a swarm offers a cost-effective way to expand an apiary or replace lost colonies, avoiding the expense of purchasing packaged bees. This method is preferred because swarms are vigorous and highly motivated to build comb and forage immediately in their new location.
Key Factors for Successful Swarm Luring
Dimensions
Successful swarm luring depends on mimicking the precise characteristics of a natural, secure tree hollow. The size of the internal cavity is a significant factor. Scout bees prefer a volume between 40 and 60 liters, which closely matches a standard ten-frame deep hive body. Cavities smaller or significantly larger than this range are less likely to be chosen by a swarm. Bees also prefer a small, defensible entrance opening, typically around two square inches.
Placement
Trap placement is just as important as its physical dimensions, as bees prefer locations that offer protection and visibility. Traps placed approximately 10 to 15 feet off the ground have a higher likelihood of attracting a swarm. This height mimics the elevation of natural tree cavities and offers protection from predators and damp ground. Positioning the trap along the edge of a wood line or a boundary between open and forested areas increases visibility. The entrance should often face a sunny direction.
Attractants
To further entice scout bees, the trap must smell established and appealing, which is achieved through physical and chemical attractants. Including one or two frames of old, dark brood comb is highly effective, as this material smells like a successful nest site. Chemical lures are also employed, often using synthetic Nasanov pheromones or lemongrass essential oil. Lemongrass oil is effective because its main component, citral, closely mimics the Nasanov orientation pheromone. Worker bees release this pheromone to guide the swarm to a new home.
Managing the Newly Captured Bee Colony
Timing the Transfer
Once a swarm moves into the trap, timing the transfer to a permanent hive requires careful consideration. It is recommended to wait a few days, or until the bees have settled and begun to build new comb. Disturbing a newly arrived swarm too soon, before they have invested in comb and brood, can prompt them to abscond entirely.
Relocation
The physical transfer should ideally occur at dusk or after dark, when all foraging bees have returned to the trap, ensuring the entire colony is moved together. The trap can then be moved to the intended permanent apiary location. If the new location is nearby, moving the trap more than two miles away temporarily helps ensure the foraging bees reorient. This prevents them from returning to the original trap location.
Final Housing
Upon moving the trap, the bees should be gently transferred into a standard hive body, such as a Langstroth box, as soon as possible. This final step allows the beekeeper to provide them with the full resources of a permanent hive, including a proper arrangement of frames and ventilation. Ensuring gentle handling and a smooth transition minimizes stress, anchoring the bees to their new home and allowing them to focus on growing the colony.