Will Bees Move Into An Empty Hive?

Will bees move into an empty hive? Yes, they love to do this. Do bees move into abandoned hives? Yes, they also love this! Now, these answers were really short and boring, so let’s have a look at what all these “yes they do” facts mean and have a look at some fun stories to highlight how this works.

Will Bees Move Into An Empty Hive?

Yes – a swarm of bees loves nothing more than to move into an empty hive box. The dimensions of an empty hive are pretty much exactly what they are looking for. If you place a new empty hive box on a roof or similar place above the ground, if there is a swarm looking for a new home it will find this box and move in. There are ways we can increase the chances of this happening!

Do Bees Move Into Abandoned Hives?

Will bees move into an empty hive? Yes! So if a hive is abandoned it is empty! However, an abandoned hive is normally far more attractive than a new hive because it smells of bees. The bees are far more likely to find an abandoned hive than a new empty hive.

There are a few things we should keep in mind here. If a hive was abandoned because the bees in that hive were sick due to American or European Foul Brood, this can result in the next swarm getting sick too. It is important to ensure that abandoned hives were not abandoned due to no illness.

Learn more about: When Should I Treat My Bees For Mites?

How Do You Attract A Swarm To An Empty Hive?

Will bees move into an empty hive? Yes, we have covered this! Now how do we increase the chances of this happening? One option is to put a bait in the hive such as lemongrass which we have discussed here.

Another option is to mix a bit of propolis and beeswax and melt that in a double boiler. We always use a double boiler with wax because if you do not, you run the risk of having a huge and scary fire. Beeswax burns in a horrible way. It is just evil and explosive and burns houses down. Never ever boil beeswax in a pot where you heat the pot directly.

Once the wax/propolis mix is melted you can paint a dab of that at the entrance of the hive and a few dabs inside. The smell is an incredible bait for bee swarms.

Place this baited box on top of a roof in a sunny place in spring. If the site is close to a field of flowers that produces a strong honey flow, or some type of tree that does, this will help. If there are apiaries nearby this also helps as the apiaries will throw out a few swarms unless the beekeeper running them is very talented.

How To Move Bees To A New Hive?

There is a trick here. Remember a new hive is less attractive to swarms than a hive that has had bees in it. Here you can use this useful trick to create catch boxes to catch swarms.

When you get new hive boxes, place the empty new box next to your established hive. Transfer the frames in order from the old established hive to the new hive. Once the old hive is empty of frames, move the new hive with frames to the exact spot where the old hive was. Shake any bees in the box into the hive or in front of the hive. They will crawl into the hive. Reassemble the “new hive” and place the lid on it.

Take the old hive box away, fill it with waxed frames and place a lid on it. It is now a perfect trap box. I have used this method to catch hundreds of swarms of bees over the years with almost no effort. It is really easy to move hives to a new box, and it is really easy to catch swarms in an old box!! It is a win-win situation. Do this move in spring once the bees are very active but before they start swarming.

Will Bees Move Into An Empty Hive? (The Longer Interesting Story-rich Version Of This Answer)

They really will!! I remember one year I was preparing hives and had a shed filled with 100 or so new hives that were ready to go out in spring. We went out in early spring as the temperature rose and moved all the old hives into new boxes. We took the 100 empty boxes back to the meadery honey house.

We then packed new frames into all the boxes, strapped lids onto them, and had them ready to take out the next week to place in citrus orchards to catch spring swarms. It was a very wet year and the bees were strong all over. The home apiary at the meadery was really strong, and all the bees there were about to swarm. We had plans to manage the swarms but everything had started a bit early in the season.

After the weekend we prepared to load the empty boxes and take them out to catch swarms. The only problem was that over the weekend, the boxes stacked against the wall were already half-filled with bees. The home apiary had thrown out swarms over the weekend and these had all moved into the boxes. What an absolute mess!!

Lesson – always store empty boxes in a place where swarms cannot move into them!!

I hope this article has helped you understand how bees will move into an empty hive. These useful tips will help you repurpose your old hives into trap boxes which will help you catch locally adapted bees. Enjoy and please share the article.

Read more about: Why Are Bees Clustering At The Hive Entrance?

FAQs

Will bees move into an empty hive on their own?

• Answer: Yes, bees, especially swarms, are naturally attracted to empty hives. The dimensions of an empty hive box closely match what they seek in a new home. Placing an empty hive in an elevated, sunny location can increase the likelihood of a swarm moving in.

Are abandoned hives more attractive to bees than new empty hives?

• Answer: Yes, abandoned hives are often more attractive to bees because they already carry the scent of beeswax and propolis, making them more familiar and inviting. However, it’s important to ensure the hive was not abandoned due to disease, as this could harm any new colony that moves in.

How can I attract a swarm to an empty hive?

• Answer: To attract a swarm to an empty hive, you can use baits like lemongrass oil, which mimics the scent of queen pheromones. Another effective method is to coat the hive entrance and interior with a mixture of melted beeswax and propolis. Placing the hive in a sunny, elevated spot near flowering plants can also help.

Is it safe to melt beeswax and propolis for baiting hives?

• Answer: While melting beeswax and propolis is an effective way to create bait for hives, it must be done with caution. Always use a double boiler to melt beeswax, as it is highly flammable and can cause dangerous fires if overheated directly.

What should I do if bees move into an empty hive I didn’t intend for them?

• Answer: If bees move into an empty hive unintentionally, you can either leave them be or transfer the colony to a more suitable hive. To avoid unwanted swarms, it’s advisable to store empty hives in a sealed location where bees cannot access them.

How do I move bees to a new hive?

• Answer: To move bees to a new hive, place the new hive next to the established one. Transfer the frames from the old hive into the new one, then move the new hive to the exact location of the old hive. The bees will naturally move into the new hive. The old hive can then be used as a trap for catching swarms.

Can I use an old hive to catch swarms?

• Answer: Yes, old hives are excellent for catching swarms because they already carry the scent of bees. After moving bees to a new hive, the old hive can be set up with fresh waxed frames and placed in an ideal location to attract swarms.

Is there an ideal time of year to set up an empty hive for swarms?

• Answer: Spring is the best time to set up an empty hive for swarms, as this is when bees are most active and likely to swarm. Positioning the hive near flowering plants and other bee colonies can improve your chances of attracting a swarm.

What should I do if multiple swarms move into empty hives at once?

• Answer: If multiple swarms move into empty hives simultaneously, it can create a chaotic situation. You may need to carefully manage the colonies to ensure each one has enough space and resources to thrive. It’s also a good idea to monitor the hives closely for any signs of overcrowding or stress.