Forming an Artificial Swarm
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The artificial swarm is a swarm produced by hand: bees are shaken off, put into a box with a queen, and later hived onto foundation.
The artificial swarm is a swarm produced by hand: bees are shaken off, put into a box with a queen, and later hived onto foundation. It starts without old comb and without brood. That is exactly what makes it valuable, since it separates bees from brood and can be treated broodless, and it is the easiest way to switch to a different frame size.
The amount of bees depends on the time of year. About 1.5 kilograms in May and June and about 2.5 kilograms from July onward is given, elsewhere one to three kilograms depending on the season. If the artificial swarm stays at the same apiary, add half a kilogram more. A mated queen is preferred, because with an unmated one the mating flight can go wrong. If no queenless agitation sets in after about two hours, a queen was accidentally shaken in as well.
Afterward, keep it cool and dark for two to three days while feeding it, because unlike a natural swarm, the artificial swarm was not able to fill its honey stomach. It is set up at least three kilometers away; if it is placed that far away, the cellar confinement can also be skipped. The broodless state is the best opportunity for a varroa treatment. Which agent is permitted for this depends on the authorization in the country concerned: in Germany, lactic acid is usually named, in Switzerland, the oxalic acid spray method.