Swarm season hits fast and doesn’t wait. One minute you’re scrolling your phone, the next you’re getting a call that there’s a cluster of bees hanging from a swing set, a tree limb, or worse, buried deep in someone’s outdoor grill. The last thing you want to do is scramble around trying to find what you need. That’s where your swarm-catching go bag comes in.
But before we get started, let’s level set and make sure we’re all on the same page. If you’re new to beekeeping, or just new to catching swarms, it’s important to understand exactly what a swarm is, why it happens, and what your role is as the person responding to it.
What Is a Swarm?
A swarm is how honey bee colonies reproduce. When a colony grows too large or senses conditions are right, the reigning queen and roughly half the bees will leave their hive and fly off to find a new home. This is the colony’s way of creating a second, independent colony. Think of it as the bee version of splitting the family and starting a new homestead.
The swarm usually lands somewhere temporarily like a tree branch, fence post, or picnic table, while scout bees search for a permanent location. This cluster of bees is typically docile because they are full of honey and not defending a hive. But that doesn’t mean you should take it lightly. Swarms may remain in place for only a few hours, or sometimes up to a few days, depending on how quickly they find a new home.
They often don’t travel very far – sometimes just a few hundred feet from their original hive, but they can and do relocate over a mile away if needed. They can also do this in more than one “hop”. As a beekeeper, your job is to safely collect them and either house them in your own equipment or relocate them for someone else.
Swarm Safety First
Let’s be clear: not every swarm is friendly.
Especially if you’re in the southern U.S. or areas where Africanized honey bees are a concern, you cannot assume a swarm is safe to handle unprotected. These bees might look just like any other honey bee, but if they’re Africanized, they can be significantly more defensive.
Always wear full protective gear until you’ve had a chance to assess the temperament of the colony. Don’t be the person who skips the gear for the sake of a TikTok video and ends up needing medical attention. No swarm is worth risking your health, or someone else’s.
Once you’ve geared up and assessed the situation, that’s when your go bag becomes your best friend.
Essential Gear for Every Swarm Catch
🧥 Protective Clothing
Even though swarms are usually gentle, don’t take chances. Have your veil, jacket or suit, and gloves ready to go. It only takes one defensive hive to ruin your afternoon.
☕ Smoker (Just in Case)
You may never use it on a swarm, and many beekeepers don’t, but keep it in the bag. Sometimes what looks like a swarm turns out to be a small colony that’s already set up shop. A little smoke can calm things down while you assess.
⚖ Multiple Hive Tools
Always bring more than one. You might need to wedge open a box, lift comb from a weird spot, or hand one to a helper.
🪤 Duct Tape & 550 Cord
Use duct tape for sealing gaps in temporary boxes or holding things together in the field. 550 cord (paracord) is great for securing boxes, tying off ladders, or hanging buckets under high limbs.
🌿 Cutting Tools: Loppers, Handsaw, Chainsaw
You never know where a swarm will land. Loppers handle finger-thick branches. Handsaws and chainsaws are for thicker limbs or larger removals. Be safe, and if you don’t know how to use them, don’t bring them.
🏚 Step Ladders (2–3’ and 6’)
Sometimes a small bump in height is all you need. A lightweight folding step ladder is perfect for reaching swarms on sheds, mailboxes, and lower tree branches. Bring a full 6-foot step ladder and, if you have a truck, an extension ladder for higher jobs.
🪣 Modified Buckets with Ventilation
Take a 5-gallon bucket and cut one or more large holes in the lid. Cover the holes with #8 hardware cloth or screen to allow ventilation. These make excellent grab-and-go swarm containers.
🚜 Broken-Down Hive Boxes
Keep a couple of hive bodies or swarm trap boxes flattened and ready to tape together as temporary containers. They’re also useful if you need to leave a swarm behind for a later pickup.
💧 Sugar Syrup in a Sprayer
Use a light 1:1 mix and spray gently. This helps calm the bees and encourages them to cluster. Don’t overspray, as the objective is not to drown the bees in sugar syrup – just give them a little something to keept themeselves busy.
🧳 Queen Cages (Hair Clip Style or Otherwise)
If you can find the queen, cage her and place the cage in a visible spot in the box. The scent helps attract the rest of the swarm to move in. Optional, but powerful when used right.
🛠Shop Vac (Optional, but Situationally Useful)
For tricky removals like wall voids or grills. Use a bee vac attachment if you have one. Not every swarm will call for it, but when you need it, nothing else will do. We will do a video on shop vac best practices around swarm catching in the future.
Final Thoughts
A swarm-catching go bag isn’t about luxury and does not need to be fancy; t’s all about being prepared. The more you prep, the smoother (and safer) the catch will be. You won’t need every item for every swarm, but if you show up without what you need, you’ll wish you had it.
Build your kit. Keep it in the truck. And when that swarm call comes in, you’ll be the one who’s ready to act—not just react. If we missed anything, let us know in the comments and we might just add it to the list. ;).
Want More Beekeeping Info?
Watch on YouTube
Join the Discord Community
Visit the Beekeeping For Newbees Website