Preventing a newly installed package of bees from absconding requires specific timing, resource management, and physical barriers. To keep the colony in the hive, you should install the bees shortly before sunset to force them to settle overnight and spray the interior frames with sugar water to provide immediate food. Additionally, adding essential oil supplements can make the hive more attractive, while placing a queen excluder between the bottom board and the brood box will physically prevent the queen from leaving, thereby anchoring the rest of the colony.
Success relies on making the new hive immediately hospitable and physically secure. By combining a calming installation time with abundant food resources and temporary physical barriers for the queen, you drastically reduce the biological urge for the colony to seek a better location.
Creating an Attractive Environment
To the bees, a new hive is a foreign environment. Your goal is to make the interior feel safe, resource-rich, and "sticky" so they accept it as their new home.
Timing the Installation
The time of day you choose is a critical control measure. You should install the package shortly before sunset.
Bees do not fly at night. By installing them at dusk, you force the colony to stay inside the hive and cluster together for warmth during their first night. This duration allows them to settle and begin accepting the new space before they have the light required to scout for alternative locations.
Scent and Nutrition
A dry, wooden box offers no incentive for bees to stay. To counter this, spray the frames and the hive interior with sugar water before and during installation.
This serves a dual purpose: it provides an immediate food source they can consume directly off the surfaces, and it masks the scent of new wood. The primary reference suggests adding essential oil-based supplements to this syrup, which increases the hive's attractiveness and encourages the bees to begin building comb.
Proper Space Management
The physical volume of the hive must mimic a natural cavity. During the initial installation, the hive should consist of only one hive body.
Too much space can make the colony feel vulnerable. Within this single body, remove four to five frames from the center to create a large void for shaking the bees into. Once the bees are in, gently replace the frames.
Controlling the Entrance
Security is a major factor in whether a colony absconds. You must install an entrance reducer set to its smallest opening.
This limits the airflow, helps maintain internal temperature, and makes the colony feel defensible against predators. Keep this reducer in place for approximately one week while the colony establishes itself.
Securing the Queen
The colony is biologically programmed to follow the queen. If she cannot leave, the worker bees will almost certainly remain with her.
The Mechanical Anchor
The most effective physical measure to prevent absconding is the use of a queen excluder.
Place this excluder between the bottom board and the brood box. The excluder's spacing allows worker bees to pass through to forage but is too narrow for the larger queen to fit through. If the queen is physically unable to fly away, the colony will not abandon her.
Handling the Queen Cage
When installing the queen, ensure you remove the cork (or cap) covering the candy plug using a wood screw or sharp instrument.
Verify that the queen is alive and that no worker bees are trapped inside the cage before placing it in the hive. When the time comes to remove the empty cage—usually days later—ensure no straggler bees are inside and pull it gently to avoid disturbing the cluster.
Common Pitfalls and Trade-offs
While the measures above are effective, they come with operational trade-offs that must be managed to ensure the long-term health of the colony.
The Risk of the Queen Excluder
Using a queen excluder on the bottom board is a temporary measure, not a permanent one.
While it guarantees the queen stays, it can also strip pollen from the legs of returning foragers and may congest the entrance. It should only be used during the initial settlement phase to prevent early absconding.
Improper Equipment Preparation
A common mistake is failing to prepare equipment before the bees arrive.
All painting, assembly, and positioning in the bee yard must be completed beforehand. Introducing bees to a hive that smells of wet paint or lacks a feeder causes stress, increasing the likelihood of them leaving.
Neglecting Regular Inspections
Once the bees are installed, you cannot ignore them.
While you want to let them settle initially, regular inspections are vital to identify health issues early. However, balance this with the need for quiet; avoid opening the hive unnecessarily in the very first few days unless checking on the queen's release.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
Every installation involves variables based on your equipment and local environment.
- If your primary focus is maximum retention: Utilize a queen excluder on the bottom board and install at dusk to physically and biologically force the bees to stay.
- If your primary focus is rapid acceptance: Heavily spray the interior with sugar water mixed with essential oils to trigger their feeding instinct and mask new equipment smells.
- If your primary focus is colony defense: Ensure the hive consists of a single deep body and the entrance reducer is set to the smallest opening to minimize vulnerability.
Ultimately, a swarm stays where it feels safe and fed; your job is to artificially create that environment from the moment they enter the box.
Summary Table:
| Measure | Action Taken | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Install shortly before sunset | Forces bees to settle overnight; prevents immediate scouting. |
| Nutrition | Spray frames with sugar water/oils | Provides immediate food and masks the scent of new wood. |
| Equipment | Use a single hive body & reducer | Makes the hive feel defensible and maintains internal heat. |
| Physical Barrier | Place queen excluder on bottom board | Mechanically prevents the queen (and thus the colony) from leaving. |
| Space | Remove 4-5 center frames | Creates a void for safe, low-stress installation of the package. |
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