Swarming tips

We all know that bees love spring and summer.

But as temperatures rise, so too do the chances of bees swarming.

The introduction of Varroa mite has however forever changed how swarms are managed.

Beekeepers contemplating capturing swarms in areas of known Varroa activity should assume the swarm will likely contain the mite.

Captured swarms should be isolated, left to settle and tested for pests before introducing to a managed apiary.

Best practice advice for beekeepers capturing any bee swarms is to perform a monitoring action - either an alcohol wash, sugar shake or soapy water wash - once the bees have settled to determine any possible mite loads. 

Visit the Monitoring for Varroa page on the National Varroa Mite Management Program website to watch a short video on how to properly perform each of the abovementioned monitoring actions. 

Once the mite load is determined, an informed decision can be made as to how the newly captured swarm should be best managed.  

To learn more about managing caught swarms, visit varroa.org.au/managing-caught-swarms. 

Beekeepers must also manage their own hives in a way that minimises chances of swarming. 

Swarms for removal can be reported to the Amateur Beekeepers of Australia.