Swarms – Reference for Members

Swarm Collecting Process
The following explains the overall Brighton and Lewes Beekeepers’ (B&L) swarm collection process. If you’re a member of B&L and/or a swarm collector, this concerns you.

Swarms for Beekeepers
1. Taking a Swarm
Swarms are few and far between now. Gone are the days when there would be half a dozen calls in a day so if you are lucky enough to be asked to take a swarm jump at the chance. Taking a swarm can be a piece of cake or a nightmare, try and avoid the latter (high in a tree, up a chimney, in a roof ...). Download Swarm Collection Guide Guide to help you take a swarm. This is aimed at the beginner and offers useful advice.

Lost bees: honey bee swarm and caste
Lost bees: honey bee swarm and caste

2. Controlling Swarming
Knowing how to CONTROL SWARMING is of the most important aspects of beekeeping, particularly if you are living in an urban area. Every beekeeper should know what to do when their bees show signs of swarming. To help deal with this aspect of beekeeping two of the several methods of the several available can be downloaded here:

Swarm Control text and diagrams   Swarm Control

Demaree Method of Swarm Control

Three informative downloads to view:
1. Healthy Bees Plan Quarterly Newsletter for all those interested in honey bee health Issue 2 January 2010 from FERA.
2. Insect Pollination issued by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.