• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

carolina honeybees logo

For the Love of Beekeeping & Bees

Header Left

Header Right

Header Left

Header Right

  • Home
  • Bees
  • Beekeeping
  • Beeswax
  • Honey
  • Bee Gardens
  • Class & Books
    • Beekeeping Class Combo
    • Beekeeping Journal
    • Buzz into Beekeeping
    • Flowers for Your Honeybee Garden Book
  • Search
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Home
  • Bees
  • Beekeeping
  • Beeswax
  • Honey
  • Bee Gardens
  • Class & Books
    • Beekeeping Class Combo
    • Beekeeping Journal
    • Buzz into Beekeeping
    • Flowers for Your Honeybee Garden Book
  • Search
honeybees

How to Set Up a Swarm Trap for Honey Bees

Home » Bee Farm Blog » Beekeeping » How to Set Up a Swarm Trap for Honey Bees

November 21, 2020 //  by Beekeeper Charlotte//  16 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Full Disclosure Read Here
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

When to Set Up Your Swarm Trap

Beekeepers who learn how to set up a swarm trap in a good location may be rewarded with free bees. Swarm traps, also called, bait hives are structures that beekeepers use to catch honey bee swarms. Swarming is a seasonal event that occurs most often in Spring. However, we want to get those swarm traps set up well before Spring arrives and scout bees are looking for new sites.

picture of a swarm trap for bees in a tree

Most beekeepers try their hand with a swarm trap at some time in their beekeeping experience.  Maybe they will catch a swarm that issues from one of their own hives.  This prevents the bees from getting away.

Sometimes we get really lucky and catch a swarm of wild bees! Didn’t know you could catch wild bees? Yes you can and it’s a hoot. Because, who doesn’t love free bees, right ?

For some new beekeepers, catching bees in a swarm trap might be the only way they can get started in beekeeping. Buying honey bee colonies and equipment can get rather expensive.

What is a Honey Bee Trap

The terms : swarm trap, bee trap, swarm trap and bait hive all mean the same thing. These words are used to describe any man-made structure that is intended to catch a honey bee swarm.

Swarm traps are made of many different materials or you can purchase commercial examples from beekeeping suppliers.

How Many Swarm Traps Should You Have?

How many swarm traps should you have on your property? Well, that depends on your space, time and budget.

Only have as many traps as you can check weekly. Most swarm traps are only designed to hold the swarm for a brief time. They will outgrow it quickly.

It is good to have several swarm traps spaced out in different locations and maybe even made of different materials. We never know for sure which one the bees will like best.

beekeeper with swarm trap in tree - how to set up a bee swarm trap

Do Bee Traps Work?

Yes, they do. Swarm traps can be very successful at catching swarms. And sometimes, you can catch more than 1 swarm in the same trap during the warm season.

However, no trap will catch every swarm of bees. I still have swarms that decide to go out on their own instead of using the free apartment I have fixed for them.

If the scout bees find a location better than what you are offering – the swarm will go there instead. You never can tell with bees. I have had swarms sit down on the outside of other beehives.

picture of honey bee swarm sitting on the outside of a beehive

How to Make Your Own Bee Swarm Trap

A common type of bee swarm trap is made using an old hive body. This would be a box that has contained bees in the past. Preferably, a scuffed old box with traces of comb, propolis and wonderful bee colony smells.

picture of used empty hive body

If you have been keeping bees for a few years, you probably have one of these laying around. If not, ask around and you should be able to find an experienced beekeeper who would give you an old hive body or sell it really cheap.

Honey bee swarms don’t always choose to go into provided boxes. Often, a beekeeper will find a swarm of bees hanging on a low limb of a tree. These are easily gathered.

But, the swarm can also be hanging in the highest branches of the tallest tree around. This is why I always have a bee swarm trap near my bee yard.

Setting up a swarm trap or bait hive is a good project for early Spring.  A good swarm of bees caught early in the year, may build to be a strong colony before Winter arrives.

Finding the Best Location for Your Honey Bee Swarm Trap

Much research has been completed on the ideal placement of bee swarm traps. If you are looking for data, you will find a wealth of ideas to help you choose a perfect spot.

What should your swarm trap be made of?  How large should the inside dimensions be?  Different sizes are suggested as being the best to entice a bee swarm.

How high up in the air the bait hive should be.  And, how far away from your current hives is best?

While you can find some wonderful guidelines to follow, the bees will sometimes do what you don’t expect.

And yes, sometimes the bees will not even give you bait hive a second look. During those times, you may be collecting the swarm from a tree.

Do not hesitate to set up a swarm trap because you don’t have the perfect location or perfect materials. You just never know what can happen.

Most resources advise setting up a swarm trap higher (13 feet or more) off the ground. However, that is too high for me to get down by myself! Do what works for you!

Choose a shady location at that is what bees seem to prefer. Also, you want the opening to the trap to be small – no more and 1-1 1/2″ in diameter. Give your trap a solid bottom so the bees feel safe.

making a solid bottom for a honeybee bait hive

A couple of hive traps placed around your area will increase your opportunity to catch a swarm of honey bees.  I like to put them in different directions from my hives.

Swarm Traps Get Heavy

 It is rare to get out to this box without being accompanied by some of the farm animals- goats, donkeys or barn cats.  Who would have guessed that they knew so much about setting up a swarm trap ?! They certainly do not like the boxes that are full of bees! 

Goats watching a swarm box being set in place.
It helps to have proper supervision when preparing bait hives for honey bee swarms.

A swarm trap (or bait hive) can get very heavy in a hurry. When you are choosing a place for your swarm trap, think about how you are going to get it down with bees and some honey inside.

I have this box connected to a rope that allows me to raise and lower it with ease. The use of a pulley system is a great idea. Don’t under-estimate how quickly a trap can become too heavy to lift .

Luring In the Scout Bees

Before a swarm can move into your trap, they have to find it. Luckily bees have an extraordinary sense of smell.

If you have it , throw a piece of old comb in the bait hive. Yes, wax moth larvae may destroy the comb but that’s okay – it does not represent a significant loss.

picture of old dark brood comb for honey bee swarm trap lure

It is okay to use the oldest, darkest brood comb that I have.  In fact, older honeycomb is a good choice. And, the old comb will not represent a real loss to me if  destroyed. 

Don’t have any old comb? Even an empty frame that smells of beeswax and propolis can help.

And of course, you can purchase commercial swarm lure. I find that their quality varies greatly.

picture of bee bait box with frames of old comb
Old comb is attractive to swarms.

Why a Swarm Trap is Unsuccessful

There are several possible reasons for this trap’s lack of success.  Perhaps there were fewer swarms in the area last year. 

Or, maybe the bees found  better accommodations elsewhere – in hollow trees, other traps or the boxing of people’s homes?

Or just maybe, there was something about this honey bee swarm trap that the early visiting scout bees just didn’t like.  It looked fine but did it smell funny

picture of scout honey bee inspecting a bait hive

We have just finished and a scout bee is already checking it out ! She must be attracted by the scent – perhaps a bee swarm will move in soon!

A Final Word on How to Set Up A Swarm Trap

At around $100 per bee family, learning to set up a swarm trap is not effort wasted. If you catch only 1 swarm your investment was worthwhile.

Try several different types of swarm traps and put them in different locations – who knows what may happen?

Now where to you have room to add a few swarm traps near your apiary?

Beekeeper Charlotte

Category: BeekeepingTag: Swarming

About Beekeeper Charlotte

Master Beekeeper, Charlotte Anderson shares her love of all things honeybee. She helps others become better beekeepers and teaches new beekeepers how to get started. Her mission is spreading awareness of the importance of honey bees. She is a former Beekeeper of the Year in South Carolina.

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

developing queen cell in capped stage on frame

4 Stages of Queen Cells

queen honey bee swarm cells on frame

Queen Cells : Do They Mean Trouble?

single honey bee queen cell hanging on a frame in the hive

What to do With Queen Cells?

picture of drone brood in beehive

What to do With a Drone Laying Queen Hive

picture of bullet shaped drone brood in drone layer hive

The Drone Laying Queen Hive

picture of a beekeeper inspecting a hive in his apiary

What is an Apiary-How Beekeepers Use Them

picture of bee brood on a frame of honeycomb in a hive

Bee Brood – Everything You Need to Know

picture of a honey bee inside the hive putting honey in comb

Do All Bees Make Honey?

picture of dead honey bees headfirst in wax cells inside a dead beehive

What to do with a Dead Beehive-Clean Out

picture of a full package of honey bees ready to install

Installing a Package of Bees In Your Hive

picture of bees on comb involved in honey bee dance communication

Honey Bee Dance Language Explained

what to do about ants in the hive

Ants in Beehives – How to Keep Them Out

Previous Post: «large bee swarm entering bait hive Collecting a Bee Swarm From My Bait Hive
Next Post: Honey Bee Swarming – Why Bees Swarm honey bee swarming on tree»

Primary Sidebar

picture of beekeeper charlotteHi, this is Beekeeper Charlotte

Welcome to my site. Want to learn more about bees? Let’s get started.

To learn more about my journey to becoming the first female Master Beekeeper in my state?

Learn More About Me

buzz beekeeping book

Latest Posts on the Blog

developing queen cell in capped stage on frame

4 Stages of Queen Cells

queen honey bee swarm cells on frame

Queen Cells : Do They Mean Trouble?

Footer

Affiliate Disclosure Policy

Carolina Honeybees, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.  Affiliate links to Amazon or any other company do not cost you anything.

We are also affiliates for other reputable companies and may earn a commission from sales resulting from a link. See full disclosure policy on Privacy Page. Privacy Policy & Affiliate Info

VISIT MY ETSY SHOP

Visit Carolina Honeybees on Etsy

  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service

Copyright © 2021 Carolina Honeybees · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.