To clear honey bees from supers efficiently, beekeepers rely on three primary tools: escape boards, fume boards paired with chemical repellents, and manual brushes. These methods function by either mechanically guiding bees out of the honey storage areas or actively driving them down into the brood chamber using scent.
Core Takeaway The most effective method depends on your timeline and willingness to use repellents. Escape boards offer a passive, chemical-free solution that requires patience, while fume boards provide immediate clearing for faster harvesting.
The Passive Method: Escape Boards
Creating One-Way Traffic
An escape board is a mechanical device placed directly between the honey supers and the brood chamber. Its design functions as a one-way valve for colony movement.
How It Clears the Super
Bees naturally leave the honey super to return to the brood nest or exit the hive. The escape board allows them to pass through to the lower boxes but physically prevents them from figuring out how to return to the honey super.
The Active Method: Fume Boards and Repellents
Driving Bees Downward
For a faster result, beekeepers use fume boards in conjunction with liquid bee repellent solutions. The board is treated with the repellent and placed on top of the open honey super.
Immediate Evacuation
The repellent scent creates an environment the bees find unpleasant. This actively drives the colony downward out of the supers and into the lower brood chamber, clearing the frames quickly.
Manual Cleanup: Handling Stragglers
Gentle Removal of Remaining Bees
Regardless of the primary method used, a few bees often remain on the frames. A bee brush or a goose feather is used to physically sweep these stragglers off the comb.
Prioritizing Bee Safety
Goose feathers are particularly noted for being gentle. This ensures that individual bees are removed without injury and without agitating the colony further.
Managing Risks and Timing
Mitigating Robbing Behavior
Efficient removal is critical because the intense aroma of exposed honey can trigger robbing behavior from other colonies. The longer honey supers remain open or accessible, the higher the risk of attracting robber bees.
Preparing for Extraction
Clearing bees quickly allows you to move frames to a controlled harvesting environment immediately. This preparation is essential before uncapping cells and utilizing centrifugal extractors.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
Select the tool that aligns with your harvesting scale and philosophy.
- If your primary focus is a chemical-free harvest: Use an escape board, which clears bees mechanically but typically requires placement ahead of time.
- If your primary focus is speed and volume: Utilize a fume board with repellent to drive bees down immediately, allowing for rapid removal of multiple supers.
- If your primary focus is precision: Keep a bee brush or goose feather on hand to gently remove the final few bees from individual frames without harming them.
Mastering these removal techniques ensures a harvest that is safe for the beekeeper and minimally disruptive to the colony.
Summary Table:
| Method | Tool Used | Action Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passive Clearing | Escape Board | Mechanical (One-way) | Chemical-free, low-stress harvesting |
| Active Clearing | Fume Board & Repellent | Scent-based (Repelling) | High speed, large volume harvests |
| Manual Cleanup | Bee Brush / Goose Feather | Physical (Sweeping) | Removing stragglers, individual frames |
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