So, you want to catch a swarm, eh? Here are some hot tips.
Listen and follow along:
You need a nuc box and five frames, a spray bottle with sugar water inside it, some cotton rope, and a bee brush.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMT8yp9HDSa-eV1CzvAW01Gpm8Di_NCyKmypcNPPFktJt6QJAkfWDgvBo3TyMXcDMwxGgxbOHr3pBbyYTROzleP9-Ar0X4D86eQ7QOlbo-aEPrmkMG1qrEnfaptRpD_zTmoO3wkN9EqkB/s400/IMG_2444.jpg)
Put your ladder under the swarm. Go up next to the swarm and spray it with sugar water, and wait awhile. This swarm had been there for 5 days; it's been hot with no nectar flow, so I sprayed them 4 times. Two benefits of this method: they can't fly when their wings are wet, and when they eat the sugar they become more docile.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnvIcNcb-ehgyrulPzPhVxohJLEJOQdIzNA9qbLxFodElzZhwFZGLRgUxVkca5Xh5DTRNMcz98brL8iJMt2ju401BEedpg0NHTsGEmQDj6FjbDLL0ajpNNYQr8FYwOg_NQ61NAc2gIxCh/s400/IMG_2445.jpg)
Now they need to put that food somewhere! Put the nuc box under the swarm cluster. Gather your courage and shake the branch.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH-fmiypgb8aW2YS1v7AficApLmjEJzYkWw3ag6TtifBfIzNWTnVtFLMrdQBLh73UDQqM0vGTjaAbnp15omhT6NS3756L_st5n8NaR1UUoBrHqdUqDlQ_22HNuF2bC1A8mQssMeAwkT_r/s400/IMG_2447.jpg)
If you've shaken the queen into the box, the rest of the bees will go in there with her.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT675lv12Ci8uVF-zwfusG4_fYQPg_paUjMWxl1XJrTxrmegH4R9YvZAJXPkla_NxeAZ0U7IaljeCsy-NlskZCr434JFARP4d3alRT3W6bjuos4aClMAHgSHSYIMs0qw3QBDn8m_63bNc/s400/IMG_2450.jpg)
Give them some more sugar-water spray. Tape the lid on. Note the screen opening I added so the bees don't get overheated.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37c6zPkW3Nq7CUL5IBUH3IUjPoY_dQzf0iTxDU4aMs5pbBa7KO_t3Fh_bFCLRq1HQeBuTlAzF_mcF8wK8QBi29psKIsBoGm56VnFRDTh4EgWZJEZrwvpo6-x24qiR4Gb6bluQL-ikiL8G/s400/IMG_2453.jpg)
Here are the bees in my living room, eating honey I poured through the screen.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQafflP9rfMVdhaqQes2_48Zj9luuG7LLldqOfMecd51PuR5xRiXidxTA2Glyrg4ni8S-EZFQx_8mb97Uclf5gEPed1k6-4BkIZnJSSX12CbrDtexqnGVJ2ECSJB0icDOed5McX6sSHpI/s400/IMG_2454.jpg)
Need more? Check out the swarm capture video.