Swarm Trapping 101: Swarm Trap Design and Placement

Capturing swarms in swarm traps provides more than just "free bees". This can also be a way to add good genetics to your beekeeping. Watch EAS Master Beekeeper John Benham explain and demonstrate the process of trapping bees.
Buy Swarm Science Advanced Swarm Lure: swarmsciencelures.com/product...
Or Find Swarm Science Lure on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Swarm-Science-...
In this video you will learn:
What makes a good swarm trap (bait hive).
How to configure your swarm trap.
What to add for a swarm lure.
How to place your swarm trap.
Where to place the swarm trap.
And what to do once you trap a swarm.
For more details on catching swarms including links to the swarm lure as well as books for further reading on swarm trapping and swarm behavior visit our swarm trapping page at: www.newbeeuniversity.com/swar...
Recommended Products:
Swarm Science Advanced Swarm Lure:
swarmsciencelures.com/product...
Ventilated Bee Suits:
ComfortProSuits.com/
Entrance Discs:
www.amazon.com/Skelang-Beehiv...
Note a beekeeper, want to become a beekeeper? This video lesson is part of our complete Introduction to Beekeeping course, you can find more details about this complete video course here:
courses.beekeepinguniversity....
We hope you enjoy this video and we would love you to subscribe and see more videos from www.NewBeeUniversity.com and EAS Master Beekeeper John Benham.
Our goal, as always, is to help you to keep happy, healthy, honey-making bees!

[@44thala49]

This video should be one of the most popular ones on trapping. Awesome job!

[@michaelreno8494]

John is a legend in Kentucky Bee keeping . Can’t wait to here you lecture again I always enjoy your knowledge . Thanks again from Reno Apiary Greenville KY .

[@patcummins6036]

Thank you sir. Awesome information for someone looking to build his and her apiary up.

[@timothymitchell8310]

Awesome, truly awesome! I really appreciate the wisdom of trapping and attracting swarms. That rope and wires wonderful. I will copy these ideas. Thank you much.

[@ForgingFreedomTV]

Thank you so much!! I have a huge silver maple that the bees come to every spring first thing for the pollen that it puts off. It’s a huge tree. I knew it would be a good place for bait hive, But for the life of me I couldn’t figure out how I could get the trap to the lowest limb which is way taller than I am. You just made another happy homesteader

[@lukebartlett6926]

John knows his stuff!! Great video.

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

Thank you Luke. Yes, I am happy to have the opportunity to work with him to help him get his knowledge out to fellow beekeepers. I am looking forward to continuing working with him to make more video lessons in the near future. Stay tuned! Thanks for commenting.

[@dogpile318]

Last year was my first. 7 traps and 4 captures. Very pleased. You provided some nice additional techniques that I will use this year in my traps too evaluate. Thanks

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

Four swarms in seven traps, sound like you did a fantastic job! Glad to hear you still were able to pick up some additional tips. Let us know how this year goes, I'm thinking you will get 7 for 7 at least :) Happy Beekeeping to you!

[@johnbenham6933]

Excellent information. I worked for a man when I was in high school who had bees. Now I’m revisiting bees to try to help them in their time of need. Hopefully I can learn enough to pay it forward and ensure future generations have these wonderful pollinators. And oh yes with a name like that how can he be wrong. Looking forward to trying your method.

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

Thanks John, I did do a double take when I saw "John Benham" commented :) Good luck trapping and happy beekeeping!

[@carlmcguire2204]

Nice info answered all of my questions thanks a bunch

[@RidgeLife]

Great knowledge! Thank you sir!

[@AlyenasKitchen]

I didn't realize pheromones attracted bees! Interesting about using the fishing line to keep the honey in place. Also how the bees prefer certain sides. Cool how you put the queen in water to wash the honey off her! I didn't think about the livestock and keeping the bees up high! Do you get bears or raccoons? Thank you for sharing all your knowledge with us!😊🌷🌼🐝

[@charlesbrown3648]

Thank you sir for not putting screws and nails into that tree.

[@DancingCrittersAcres]

Many thanks for great info. I am wanting to get into beekeeping. Going to have to try this for a start this spring. Again many thanks for the video. You take care. Dean

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

Thanks Dean! I think bees would be a fantastic addition to your homestead! We offer a full online beekeeping course that walks you from start to finish if you are wanting guidance in getting started. You can find details here: courses.newbeeuniversity.com/p/introduction-to-beekeeping-course/ Hope you jump in and join the beekeeping addiction!

[@oliviawilson9371]

Great tips! Thanks!

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

Glad it was helpful!

[@honeybees1]

Great stuff Thanks!!

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

You are welcome! Thank you for watching and commenting! Keep an eye out for more videos to come, thanks!

[@badassbees3680]

Good video ! I rub Propolis in my new boxes, I also melt in alcohol (to stretch it out) and spray inside with sprayer.Only on new boxes that smell new...

[@frankspataro9714]

I do a similar thing I use plywood boxes 4 or 5 frames wide 14 to 20 Inches deep depending on scrap wood use starters strips the exact same way with one old comb in it works excellent I keep mine lower to the ground seems to work great head high its alot easier to handle I take mine the down as soon as the move in at dark I close it and move far away i have good success with em staying in the box I put em in

[@2DayBob]

you could add a secondary rope that allows you to direct the lowering similar to tree trimmers.

[@bibo6826]

Where do you get the 16 ga aluminum wire? I have searched for it since I saw your presentation at the Kentuckiana Beekeepers Club in Louisville, but have been unable to find any...

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

This 16 guage aluminum wire came from Home Depot, lowes will likely have it as well. You will have to check your local store, but here is the link to the wire online: www.homedepot.com/p/Field-Guardian-164-ft-16-Gauge-Aluminum-Wire-AF16164/204620688 Good luck with your swarm trapping!

[@zardiw]

Step 1: Set up a bee hive (4-5 stack Japanese Box hive is simplest). 2: Cut a 1 1/2 to 2" hole in one side about half way up and squirt some lemon grass oil inside. 3: Wait. 4: Once swarm has entered and bees are setting up house, close the hole with a piece of plywood and a screw. 5. Bees will now solely start using the entrance............If you build it, they will come.......Simple.....And this works best when the weather is warm and sunny....late spring, early summer......could also happen in late summer.........Z

[@tudley1059]

Recipe for your swarm lure??? Imissed it.

[@adaml262]

What type of knot are you using to attach the 3/8” rope to the aluminum wire?

[@s.fla.beekeepingmangoesand1517]

Fishing line is a great idea. 15-20 pound tested?

[@adeyoung2012]

I have a hive living in a tree that needs to be removed. Cost for removal is too expensive due to the lift that would be required. Can I use this technique in the same tree that they are living on a lower branch?

[@johnbusch1054]

The old comb I have still has nectar and pollen in it, I am getting conflicting answers about if the swarm will accept that or not. Any suggestions?

[@badassbees3680]

No! You'll only get robbing or wax moth, don't want any pollen or nectar/honey in comb or you'll attract shb or wax moth

[@seedsandarrowsfrontier9224]

Im enjoying the videos and staying yuned for more videos. If you have time stop by Seeds and Arrows Frontier. God bless

[@twylavarn]

What kind of wire do you have on the boxes?

[@gwenellis625]

LOVE YA WORK... WILL SET A FEW THIS YEAR. THE FREE BEES I GET WILL BE SET UP IN SALT WATER MANGROVES..WHY PEST FREE SAME ON REMOTE ISLANDS AND THE HONEY WELL IT JUST FLOWS..

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

Sounds great! Good luck trapping this swarm season!

[@koz6670]

how big should the hole be and what did you put in the middle of the hole?

[@lavenderlilacproductions]

Inch and a half. Half inch hardware cloth over it so bees can get in and mice and birds can't.

[@lavenderlilacproductions]

And he said steel wool as a plug when bringing it home.

[@bradmcclure4945]

I'm sorry myhearing is poor, could you please provide the names of the oil - thx

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

Hello Brad, You can find details typed out on our site including links to buy the oils or swarm commander if you are not wanting to mix your own. Here is that link: www.newbeeuniversity.com/swarm-trapping-swarm-trap-design-and-trap-placement/

[@stonkpuppets6393]

Will scouts of different colonies fight each another for an empty cavity ?

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

I have seen scouts compete and more than one colony seemingly inspecting the same home site, but not fighting each other. Honey bees typically only fight when defending there colony/nest. Thanks!

[@67davefrench]

Do you sell these boxes??

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

Hello, No we do not, however you can make a variation of this by using a deep box, or I have been using two 5 frame nuc boxes combined one on top of the other. Then I put a board over the top and bottom and drill a hole (about 1 inch) toward the bottom of the trap. I have had great success with this set up and it keeps the volume right at that preferred size of about 40 Liters.

[@JK-es9wu]

remove the trap at night when all the foragers have returned to hive

[@robinfrazier9763]

well I like your videos very well but I think maybe a little long . Rob.

[@BeekeepingUniversity]

Thanks for watching Robin. Honestly I too would prefer to keep videos to about 10 minutes, but when I am with a Master Beekeeper they have so much knowledge to share I can't help but make longer videos. Thanks again for watching and happy beekeeping to you!

[@sheilamclaughlin963]

If u let them get started u can drown the bees with nectar handling them too rough

[@crdorado1195]

In my experience, a trap no more than 5 feet high will catch all the bees you want. I ain't getting on a ladder 15' high and wrestle a box out of a tree, thats a wonderful way to end your beekeeping career.