Swarm Kit Checklist:
- Protective gear – bee suit with hood & gloves
- Container – Nuc box or hive box with frames & lids. Make sure there’s ventilation. You can also just use a cardboard box.
- Bee brush – to gently sweep bees into the container
- Duct tape – to secure boxes, fix gear, and/or create ventilation
- Ground cover – a white sheet or drop cloth to spread under the swarm to catch any falling bees
- Pruning shears – to cut branches if swarm is on a tree limb.
- Optional but helpful items:
- Spray bottle with sugar water – fill with 1:1 sugar water solution to lightly mist the bees, which can calm them and reduce flight
- Smoker – can be used to calm bees, though a smoker is not always necessary for a calm swarm
- Ladder – a step or folding ladder is useful for swarms that are just out of reach
- Queen clip – to trap the queen if you find her
- Frame of wax comb – placing an empty frame of drawn comb inside the box can make it more appealing to the bees to enter
Catch a swarm of honey bees by placing an empty hive box or collection container directly beneath the cluster, giving the branch a sharp shake to dislodge the bees, and waiting until evening to move them.
Step-by-Step Capture Guide
- Prepare the box: Set your hive or container on a light-colored sheet on the ground, or hold it right below the cluster if they are low on a branch. Remove a few center frames to create empty landing space.
- Dislodge the cluster: Give the branch a sharp, firm shake so the bulk of the bees drop straight into the container. If the queen falls in, the rest of the colony will follow her pheromones and march inside.
- Wait until dusk: Leave the box partially open near the spot until sundown so returning foragers can find the queen and move inside.
- Close and transport: After nightfall when all bees are settled, seal the entrance and move the colony to its permanent apiary location.
Watch this video to see a demonstration of shaking a cluster into a box:
56s – Catching a Swarm | Beekeeping Academy | Ep. 50
4.4K views · 1 year ago 
YouTube · UFhoneybeelab