Package bee swarm
During May, a simple way to increase one’s apiary or to prevent swarming in an overly strong colony is to create a package bee swarm.
In the early afternoon, in fine weather, a new hive body fitted with foundation is placed on top of the brood chamber of a very strong colony, followed by an inner cover or the outer roof turned upside down and slightly offset to allow ventilation and the escape of smoke upwards. The colony is then heavily smoked through the entrance for about one minute, until the smoke emerges from the opening at the edge of the cover.
The colony begins to buzz audibly; after waiting another minute, the two hive bodies are tapped vigorously from bottom to top using a hive tool or a stick. The bees start moving up into the upper body. Tapping is alternated with puffs of smoke. In less than five minutes, all the bees, together with the queen, will have moved into the upper body.
Adjust the cover, place the upper body on a hive floor, and move the whole unit to a shaded corner of the apiary; work gently, as the cluster may fall to the ground at the slightest shock. Close the original hive with its inner cover and roof. The foragers will return to the now queenless parent colony, care for the brood, and draw a queen cell to rear a new queen.
To ensure that the queen is indeed in the new colony, remove the cover after half an hour. If the bees remain calm, the queen is present; if they rush out en masse, the operation has failed—reunite the colonies and try again on another day. If the queen is in the new colony, this closed hive is placed in a cellar for two nights and then installed at its new location in the apiary. All bees will remain there and will not return to the former site. Reduce the space to the number of occupied frames (5–6) and feed, as engorged bees will build comb more quickly. Gradually increase the number of drawn frames according to colony development (≈ 2 frames per week).
This operation is very reliable for sanitizing colonies; the original colony will obtain a new queen, while the new colony, rich in nurse bees, will be able to build comb and subsequently produce a honey super. This super should be added with drawn combs once the brood chamber is well occupied. If necessary, stimulate egg laying with regular small feedings of 50% sugar syrup (2 dl, 3 times per week).
When properly mastered, this practice provides excellent swarm control. It does not work at all with weak colonies. Take advantage of the opportunity to treat the package bee swarm with oxalic acid before brood capping.