Prevent Hive Africanization: Create a DIY Swarm Lure and Understand Arizona Swarm Season
This page may contain affiliate links. Learn more.
Swarm season in Arizona is a critical period for beekeepers. From February through May, colonies experience rapid growth fueled by the region’s abundant nectar and pollen (citrus, mesquite, and palo verde are leading sources). However, with expansion comes a risk: overcrowded hives often trigger the swarming process, where the old queen leaves with a portion of the workers to form a new colony. In Arizona, this is particularly significant because a swarmed hive can result in the new queen mating with feral drones carrying Africanized traits—a scenario every backyard beekeeper aims to avoid.
Understanding Swarm Season in Central and Southern Arizona
During swarm season, the hive’s natural reproductive cycle is in full swing. As the colony grows, the bees may begin raising queen cells—often a sign that they’re preparing to divide. Here’s what to watch for:
- Queen Cells: Noticeable, elongated cells—often located on the bottom of frames—indicate that the bees are preparing for swarming.
- Reduced Foraging: As the colony gears up to swarm, there may be a temporary drop in foraging activity.
- Overcrowding: A highly populated hive with congestion around the entrance signals that it might soon be time for a split.
- Whiting on Tops of Frames: This looks like the image below, and indicates the bees are in wax-building mode and it’s time to start more frequent inspections.
Identifying these signs early gives you the opportunity to take preventive action.
Preventing Your Bees from Swarming
There are several proactive steps you can take to keep your hive stable and reduce the risk of swarming:
- Regular Inspections: Monitor your hives frequently for signs of overcrowding and queen cell production.
- Providing Adequate Space: Add additional supers or frames to give your bees more room as the colony grows.
- Hive Splitting: If the colony’s population surges, consider performing a split. This not only relieves pressure but also reduces the chances of swarming.
- Timely Requeening: Introducing a young, vigorous queen can help deter the natural urge to swarm, as younger queens are less likely to incite the process.
Managing these factors not only prevents swarming but also keeps your bees from potentially mating with feral drones that could introduce Africanized traits into your colony.
Re-Purposing Unwanted Queens
If you’re like me, the hardest part of requeening a hive isn’t introducing the new queen—it’s eliminating the old one. There’s something unsettling about removing a creature that has played such a vital role in the colony’s success. However, in Arizona, we generally requeen only when our hives have become Africanized, so the decision is usually clear-cut. While necessary, it can still feel difficult to dispatch such an important insect.
Over time, I’ve found that if I can give the old queen a purpose beyond her time in the hive, the process feels a little less harsh. In some cases, I’ve kept old queens alive temporarily to assist in trapouts or to serve as placeholders for queenless colonies. This can be a short-term solution that extends her usefulness for a little while longer.
However, eventually, an Africanized queen does need to be removed permanently. Instead of discarding her, I use her to create a powerful swarm lure. Queen bees produce more than 50 different compounds that influence the behavior and physiology of their workers and drones. These natural pheromones make them incredibly attractive to bees, making them a perfect addition to a homemade lure.
How to Make a Swarm Lure
MATERIALS
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the following to a large glass or cup.
- 1Prepare the Tincture: Each time you requeen, place the deceased queen into the jar filled with vodka and seal it tightly.
- 2Infuse: Allow the mixture to sit for at least two weeks so that the queen’s pheromones can infuse the alcohol.
- 3Transfer and Mix: After a couple of weeks, transfer some of the solution into your dropper or spray bottle. Add 25-30 drops of lemongrass oil, then shake well to mix.
- 4Apply the Lure: Spray one or two light sprays inside the lid, on the walls, or on the top bars of your bait or lure hive.
NOTES
This pheromone-rich solution is incredibly attractive to bees, so be careful where you apply it. Avoid spraying it on yourself, your clothing, or any area where you don’t want to encourage bee activity.
By repurposing retired queens in this way, we honor their role in the colony and continue to benefit from their powerful influence. Not only does this make requeening a little easier on the beekeeper’s conscience, but it also provides a sustainable and effective method for swarm trapping. Give it a try and see how well it works for your apiary!
Share this hack
I’m Here For You
For weekly updates on beekeeping in Arizona and what do do with your bee products, sign up for my newsletter. You’ll also receive a FREE Quick Guide to Beekeeping in Arizona. You’ll love it!
If you would like more personalized help, book a mentorship session with me. Simply send me a message and we can set it up.
Pin Me!
Related Posts
Prevent Hive Africanization: Create a DIY Swarm Lure and Understand Arizona Swarm Season
This page may contain affiliate links. Learn more.
Swarm season in Arizona is a critical period for beekeepers. From February through May, colonies experience rapid growth fueled by the region’s abundant nectar and pollen (citrus, mesquite, and palo verde are leading sources). However, with expansion comes a risk: overcrowded hives often trigger the swarming process, where the old queen leaves with a portion of the workers to form a new colony. In Arizona, this is particularly significant because a swarmed hive can result in the new queen mating with feral drones carrying Africanized traits—a scenario every backyard beekeeper aims to avoid.
Understanding Swarm Season in Central and Southern Arizona
During swarm season, the hive’s natural reproductive cycle is in full swing. As the colony grows, the bees may begin raising queen cells—often a sign that they’re preparing to divide. Here’s what to watch for:
- Queen Cells: Noticeable, elongated cells—often located on the bottom of frames—indicate that the bees are preparing for swarming.
- Reduced Foraging: As the colony gears up to swarm, there may be a temporary drop in foraging activity.
- Overcrowding: A highly populated hive with congestion around the entrance signals that it might soon be time for a split.
- Whiting on Tops of Frames: This looks like the image below, and indicates the bees are in wax-building mode and it’s time to start more frequent inspections.
Identifying these signs early gives you the opportunity to take preventive action.
Preventing Your Bees from Swarming
There are several proactive steps you can take to keep your hive stable and reduce the risk of swarming:
- Regular Inspections: Monitor your hives frequently for signs of overcrowding and queen cell production.
- Providing Adequate Space: Add additional supers or frames to give your bees more room as the colony grows.
- Hive Splitting: If the colony’s population surges, consider performing a split. This not only relieves pressure but also reduces the chances of swarming.
- Timely Requeening: Introducing a young, vigorous queen can help deter the natural urge to swarm, as younger queens are less likely to incite the process.
Managing these factors not only prevents swarming but also keeps your bees from potentially mating with feral drones that could introduce Africanized traits into your colony.
Re-Purposing Unwanted Queens
If you’re like me, the hardest part of requeening a hive isn’t introducing the new queen—it’s eliminating the old one. There’s something unsettling about removing a creature that has played such a vital role in the colony’s success. However, in Arizona, we generally requeen only when our hives have become Africanized, so the decision is usually clear-cut. While necessary, it can still feel difficult to dispatch such an important insect.
Over time, I’ve found that if I can give the old queen a purpose beyond her time in the hive, the process feels a little less harsh. In some cases, I’ve kept old queens alive temporarily to assist in trapouts or to serve as placeholders for queenless colonies. This can be a short-term solution that extends her usefulness for a little while longer.
However, eventually, an Africanized queen does need to be removed permanently. Instead of discarding her, I use her to create a powerful swarm lure. Queen bees produce more than 50 different compounds that influence the behavior and physiology of their workers and drones. These natural pheromones make them incredibly attractive to bees, making them a perfect addition to a homemade lure.
How to Make a Swarm Lure
MATERIALS
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the following to a large glass or cup.
- 1Prepare the Tincture: Each time you requeen, place the deceased queen into the jar filled with vodka and seal it tightly.
- 2Infuse: Allow the mixture to sit for at least two weeks so that the queen’s pheromones can infuse the alcohol.
- 3Transfer and Mix: After a couple of weeks, transfer some of the solution into your dropper or spray bottle. Add 25-30 drops of lemongrass oil, then shake well to mix.
- 4Apply the Lure: Spray one or two light sprays inside the lid, on the walls, or on the top bars of your bait or lure hive.
NOTES
This pheromone-rich solution is incredibly attractive to bees, so be careful where you apply it. Avoid spraying it on yourself, your clothing, or any area where you don’t want to encourage bee activity.
By repurposing retired queens in this way, we honor their role in the colony and continue to benefit from their powerful influence. Not only does this make requeening a little easier on the beekeeper’s conscience, but it also provides a sustainable and effective method for swarm trapping. Give it a try and see how well it works for your apiary!
Share this hack
I’m Here For You
For weekly updates on beekeeping in Arizona and what do do with your bee products, sign up for my newsletter. You’ll also receive a FREE Quick Guide to Beekeeping in Arizona. You’ll love it!
If you would like more personalized help, book a mentorship session with me. Simply send me a message and we can set it up.
Pin Me!
