How to Catch a Swarm of Bees

Catching a Swarm Near the Ground

• 1

  Remove two or three frames from a beeless hive and position them at a height below your head.

• 2

  Spray the beehive with lemon-scented furniture polish.

• 3

  Shake the limb or bush holding the swarm to dislodge the bees.

• 4

  Replace the frames and lid of the hive after the swarm enters the hive.

• 5

  Leave the hive for a few hours while stray bees find their way into the hive.

Catching a Swarm High in a Tree

• 6

  Gather your equipment: lemon-scented furniture polish; ladder or rope and weight (such as a rock or any heavy object); drop cloth; and an empty hive body.

• 7

  Spread a sheet or drop cloth on the ground under the cluster.

• 8

  Place the empty hive body on the drop cloth under the swarm. You can use the drop cloth to gather up the swarm if it misses the hive body.

• 9

  Spray the hive with the lemon-scented furniture polish to help attract the bees to their new home.

• 10

  Remove the top of the hive.

• 11

  Use the ladder if possible, or tie the weight to the end of the rope end and throw the weight over the limb where the bees are clustered.

• 12

  Jerk both ends of the rope to dislodge the cluster of bees.

• 13

  Replace the top of the hive after the swarm drops into the hive body.

• 14

  Leave the hive for a few hours while stray bees find their way into the hive.