How-To Guides
Public beekeeping guides from BeehiveTracker. Google and visitors can read these guides without logging in.
How to Stop Bees from Swarming
to Stop Bees from Swarming Swarming is the natural way a honey bee colony reproduces. You cannot remove the instinct completely, but you can greatly reduce the risk and control it when signs appear. The practical answer...
Swarm ControlHow to Spot Queen Cells
to Spot Queen Cells Queen cells are one of the most important things to recognise during a hive inspection. They tell you whether a colony may be preparing to swarm, replacing a failing queen, or trying to recover after...
Swarm ControlHow to Tell the Difference Between Swarm Cells and Supersedure Cells
to Tell the Difference Between Swarm Cells and Supersedure Cells If a colony is preparing to swarm, you will usually find several charged queen cells, often along the lower edges or side edges of brood frames, with a str...
Swarm ControlHow to Perform an Artificial Swarm
to Perform an Artificial Swarm An artificial swarm is a practical swarm control method that mimics what a honey bee colony is trying to do naturally. You move the old queen into a fresh hive on the original stand so the...
Swarm ControlHow to Split a Hive to Prevent Swarming
to Split a Hive to Prevent Swarming Splitting a hive is one of the most useful swarm control techniques for UK beekeepers. Done at the right time, it reduces crowding, interrupts the colony’s swarm impulse and gives you...
Swarm ControlHow to Catch a Bee Swarm
to Catch a Bee Swarm A honey bee swarm is usually easiest to catch while it is clustered in one mass on a branch, fence, post or wall. The safest method is simple: prepare a ventilated nuc or brood box, position it under...
Swarm ControlHow to Put a Swarm into a Hive
to Put a Swarm into a Hive Putting a swarm into a hive is usually straightforward if you work calmly, protect the queen and give the bees a suitable cavity to settle in. The aim is simple: get the queen and the main clus...
Swarm ControlHow to Care for a Newly Caught Swarm
to Care for a Newly Caught Swarm A newly caught swarm should be put into a clean, secure hive or nucleus box as soon as practical, given good ventilation, a reduced entrance and enough space to cluster. Leave the bees to...
Swarm ControlHow to Use a Bait Hive
to Use a Bait Hive A bait hive is a prepared empty hive used to attract and house a honey bee swarm. It does not replace normal swarm control in your own colonies, but it can help you recover swarms that would otherwise...
Swarm ControlHow to Set Up a Swarm Trap
to Set Up a Swarm Trap A good swarm trap gives scout bees what they are looking for: a dry, secure cavity of the right size, a small entrance, a clear flight path and the smell of a previously successful nest. In the UK,...
Swarm ControlHow to Stop a Swarm Leaving Again
to Stop a Swarm Leaving Again ## Short answer To stop a swarm leaving again, you must change the colony’s situation, not just remove a few queen cells. Check whether the queen is present, assess the number and stage of q...
Swarm ControlHow to Manage Virgin Queens After Swarming
to Manage Virgin Queens After Swarming ## Short answer After a colony has swarmed, do not rush to “fix” it unless there is a clear problem. In a normal prime swarm, the old queen leaves with a large part of the flying be...
Swarm ControlHow to Know If a New Queen Has Mated
to Know If a New Queen Has Mated You cannot confirm that a new queen has mated simply by seeing her on the comb. The reliable evidence is what she lays. A successfully mated queen should lay single eggs in worker cells,...
Swarm ControlHow to Check for Eggs After a Swarm
to Check for Eggs After a Swarm After a swarm, do not rush to declare the colony queenless. In a newly hived swarm, inspect gently after about 4–7 days if the weather is suitable. If you find eggs or very young larvae, t...
Swarm ControlHow to Rebuild a Colony After Swarming
to Rebuild a Colony After Swarming When a colony has swarmed, the job is not to panic or over-inspect. First establish what is left in the hive: bees, brood, stores, queen cells and any sign of disease. From there you ha...