HOW TO STOP BEES SWARMING

Wondering how to stop bees swarming? Stopping bees from swarming takes time and dedication but it is possible.

On this page I provide six top tips to help you stop your bees from swarming. Stopping bees swarming helps maximise your honey crop and as more bees are available to gather nectar during the season.

stop bees swarming

1. REGULAR INSPECTIONS

Regular inspections is the only way to identify when a colony is about to swarm. It doesn't stop the colony from swarming but it gives you crucial information about what the bees are planning to do next. You should inspect EVERY 7 days from April to September in the UK, throughout the active beekeeping season. If you find swarm cells you can take action.

2. HORIZONTAL SPLITS

The easiest way to stop your bees swarming is to make proactive splits. This method of artificial swarming makes the bees think they have already swarmed and heavily reduces their impulse to swarm. You can follow our video on MAKING HORIZONTAL SPLITS or check out THIS PAGE for detailed instructions on how to split your beehive.

3. VERTICAL SPLITS

This is our favourite swarm management technique and it can be carried out numerous times within the season. The Demaree method involves lifting the brood area to the top of the stack of boxes and replacing the brood box with frames of foundation and the original queen. Check out our video for detailed instructions on how to perform a Demaree split.

4. GIVE THEM SPACE

If colonies of bees do not have sufficient space, they WILL swarm. However, giving them sufficient space is only a small part of a swarm management strategy. You should aim to ensure the bees always have at least one empty box of frames above them at all times, with the only exception being, the last few weeks of the beekeeping season.

5. KEEP THEM BUSY

Keeping bees busy by adding fresh foundation is an excellent swarm management technique. It's not a fool proof method and should be used in conjunction with other techniques. The process of drawing wax seems to keep the bees occupied on expanding the existing colony as opposed to swarming and trying to find somewhere new to live!

6. DON'T BREED FROM THEM

Making Splits from Queen Cells is EASY - Check out our video on how to do it HERE. But it comes with its own risks. Swarming is a genetic trait that all bees possess. However, some bees do seem to have a propensity to swarm more than others. By making splits with colonies that are proven to swarm regularly, you are propagating this negative trait.

HOW TO STOP BEES SWARMING

1. REGULAR INSPECTIONS

2. HORIZONTAL SPLITS

3. VERTICAL SPLITS

4. GIVE THEM SPACE

5. KEEP THEM BUSY

6. DON'T BREED FROM THEM

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