1.4.2 Artificial swarm

An artificial swarm can reduce the varroa population. To this end, young bees must be taken from one or more colonies. Depending on the season, an artificial swarm should consist of 1 to 3 kg of young bees.

Official factsheet – Summary

Factsheet: 1.4.2 Artificial swarm

• Principle: An artificial swarm consists of shaken bees installed without brood in a new hive.
• Objectives:
  • Creation of new colonies.
  • Interruption of the egg-laying cycle to reduce Varroa pressure.
  • Sanitation of weakened colonies.
• Prerequisites:
  • Collection of bees from healthy colonies.
  • Introduction of a mated queen or possibility of queen rearing.
  • Provision of feeding after installation.
• Implementation:
  • Shake the required quantity of bees.
  • Place them in a suitable container.
  • Install them in the prepared hive according to the factsheet.
• Important point:
  • The artificial swarm requires careful monitoring, particularly regarding feeding.

► Open the official factsheet PDF (FR)

► To the official factsheet page (abeilles.ch)
Note: Chapter 1.4.2 “Artificial swarm”.

Summary established on the basis of factsheet 1.4.2. Last verification: 01/2026.

See also:

• Factsheet: 1.4.3 Artificial swarm with queen
• How to introduce queens?
• Factsheet: 2.8 Varroosis
• Principles of bee feeding