Should You Catch a Small Swarm?
A honey bee swarm is always an exciting event – especially for beekeepers. But, when it is a small swarm cluster, you may hesitate. Is it worth the time, effort and risk to catch a swarm that barely fills a coffee can? This guide will help you decide whether or not to collect a small swarm and explain why I rarely pass them up.
Any beekeeper will admit – catching a large prime bee swarm is fun! But, while small swarms can be more difficult to grow into a full colony, they are not always a waste of time.
Are Small Swarms Worth the Effort?
It is the wise beekeeper that stops to consider “is this really worth doing?” when faced with a small swarm. The answer depends on your goals, the time of year and the swarm’s potential.
If the weather outside is humid with temperatures in the 90’s – I admit to having a greater pause. But, we tend to judge swarm potential by size.
Estimating the Size of a Swarm
In my beekeeping classes, I often explained that beekeepers use common visual comparisons to judge – swarm size (in relation to bee population). While this is just a guess or average – it does give you some preliminary data.
For example:
- Softball-size – 2,000-3,000 bees
- Basketball-size 10,000 or more
Most of the swarms I catch are somewhere in between these sizes but even the small ones can thrive with proper care and a little luck.
Factors to Consider
In a honey bee colony of any size, it takes thousands of workers to perform the daily tasks of hive life—building comb, raising brood, foraging, producing honey, and defending the hive.
A very small swarm may not have enough bees to keep up with all these demands right away.
Another important point: honey bees don’t live very long. As time passes, some of the original swarm bees will begin to die before their replacements can emerge.
This creates a population gap that could put the colony at risk if it can’t sustain itself long enough to rebuild.
Small swarms collected early in the season have more time to grow and establish themselves before winter. But those gathered in late summer or fall bee swarms may struggle due to limited time and forage availability.
Before deciding to catch a small swarm, ask yourself the following:
- Do I have the right equipment ready? A small nuc box with proper frames and a feeder works well for tiny swarms.
- Am I prepared to feed the bees if needed? Supplemental feeding can make a big difference in how quickly the colony builds up.
- Is the swarm easy to reach? Beekeeping safety should always be a top priority—don’t risk injury for a hard-to-reach cluster.
- Will this swarm serve a purpose in my apiary? Think about your goals—whether it’s boosting colony numbers, adding genetic diversity, or simply enjoying the experience.
Pros and Cons of Little Swarms
Like any decision we make in beekeeping, collecting a small swarm comes with its trade-offs. Only you can weigh the potential benefits and risks and decide if it is worth the effort.
Pros
The lucky beekeeper may reap some unexpected benefits for a tiny swarm. Perhaps, it came from a local survivor colony and brings valuable genetic diversity.
These are often “after-swarms”. This means they are smaller in size and leave the colony after the first “primary swarm” has been cast.
An after-swarm may have 1 or more virgin queens – this increases your chance to end up with a young vigorous queen.
Cons
However, the small swarm represents challenges too. You will need to invest time and resources to help them become established – especially for the first 2 months or so.
The biggest concerns are making sure the new colony has a mated queen with a good brood pattern and good nutrition.
Small colonies are more prone to robbing behavior from other bees. You will need to adjust the size of their box and entrance as the colony grows.
There are no guarantees – but there never is in beekeeping – is there?
Why I Always Collect Small Swarms
Personally, I rarely turn down a small swarm if they are within easy reach. In fact, it is not unusual for me to catch small swarms in my bait hives.
I see this as an opportunity. If one of my production hives loses their queen, I can use the nuc box swarm to support the larger hive. Combining two beehives into one can be a wise move.
Some of my strongest hives began as swarms no bigger than a cantaloupe. Even when they don’t make it, I gain insight or resources (like drawn comb). For me, the potential reward usually outweighs the risk.
Final Thoughts: Making the Right Call
Whether or not you catch a small bee swarm depends on many variables—season, resources, and your personal beekeeping goals. But don’t dismiss small swarms outright. With a little care and planning, they can grow into strong, productive colonies that earn their place in your bee yard.