Practical Guide: 1.4.3 Queen/Artificial Swarm
A queen or artificial swarm is a method for establishing a new colony with a defined queen. It is deliberately created to build strong, vigorous colonies, form nucleus colonies, or carry out rehabilitation measures. The summary below is based on the official Practical Guide 1.4.3 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.
Official Practical Guide (BGD / SSA) – Summary
Practical Guide: 1.4.3 Queen/Artificial Swarm
- Objective: Establishment of a new colony with a designated queen for reproduction, rehabilitation of weak colonies, or structured formation of nucleus colonies.
- Material & preparation: Clean hive/nucleus box, sufficient number of frames with foundation or fresh comb base, mated or young queen, feed (honey or sugar syrup), smoker, hive tool, protective clothing.
- Principle: The artificial swarm is provided with a queen and a balanced number of bees and brood, whereby brood combs are taken from strong colonies to supply the new colony directly with resources and workforce.
- Procedure (key points):
- Select a mated or young queen with good performance and healthy lineage.
- Prepare the hive/nucleus with sufficient space for brood and later expansion.
- Remove bees and brood from strong colonies; introduce the queen into the artificial swarm.
- Provide feed and ensure placement in a calm, suitable environment.
- Follow-up inspections: regularly check brood development, feed status, and health.
- Tips & notes:
- Work under stable weather conditions and calm weather.
- Minimise stress for the bees (gentle handling, moderate smoking).
- Ensure adequate feeding to support spring build-up and development.
► PDF of the official practical guide (DE)
► Official overview of practical guides (bienen.ch)
Note: Section Operational concept and practical guides → 1.4.3 “Queen/Artificial Swarm”.
Summary based on Practical Guide 1.4.3. Last review: 01/2026.
Learn more:
- Practical Guide: 4.5.2 Introducing a queen
- Multiplication of a nucleus
- Practical Guide: 1.4.4.1 Nucleus – collective brood nucleus
- Preventing swarming