How to Clear Bees From Honey Supers: Escape Boards, Fume Boards, Blowers and Brushing

The super is full, the honey is capped, and it is covered in bees. Before you can take it to the extractor, the bees have to leave. How you do that affects how calm the colony stays, how much robbing you trigger, and how long harvest day takes.

There are four main ways to clear supers. This guide compares them so you can choose the right one for the number of hives you have and the time you can spend. For the rest of the harvest, see how to harvest honey.

Before you clear: is the super ready?

Clearing bees is only worth doing once the honey is ready to come off. Taking supers too early is one of the most common harvest mistakes, because honey that is not ready can be too wet and may ferment in the jar.

• Look for capped cells. Bees cap honey once they have dried it enough. A widely used rule of thumb is to harvest frames that are mostly capped, with only a small area of open cells.
• Shake test open cells. Hold a frame horizontally over the open hive and give it a firm shake. If nectar drips or sprays out, it is not ready.
• Check moisture if unsure. A refractometer gives a reading; see do you need a refractometer.
• Look for brood. Frames with brood stay in the hive, and brood in a super will stop an escape board from working.
• Leave enough for the bees. Plan the harvest around what the colony needs for the coming season, not just what is full.

Plan your extraction space before you clear, too. Once supers are off the hive, they should go straight to a sealed room or vehicle and be extracted soon after, while the honey is still warm and flows easily.

Methods compared

Bee escape boards

A bee escape board goes between the brood boxes and the supers you want to clear. It works like a one-way door: bees can move down through it into the brood area but have trouble finding the way back up. Common designs include multi-exit triangle or maze boards and boards fitted with small spring escapes.

How to use one

1. Make sure the queen is below. If brood or the queen is in the super, bees will not leave it.
2. Install the board with the correct side facing down (follow the board’s instructions) between the brood nest and the supers.
3. Seal every gap. Cracks in the supers, an upper entrance or a gap under the cover will let robbers in and bees back up.
4. Return after a day or two. Many beekeepers find that a cooler night helps bees move down to the cluster.
5. Take the supers off promptly. Left too long, bees may find their way back, and an unguarded super can attract robbers or pests.

Fume boards

A fume board is a cover lined with absorbent fabric. You apply a bee-repellent product to the fabric and place the board on top of the super. The scent drives bees downward and out of the super.

• Use only products labelled for this purpose and follow the label for amount, contact time and safety. Do not substitute other chemicals.
• Warmth matters. Fume boards tend to work best on warm, sunny days, often with a dark top to absorb heat. They are much less effective when it is cool.
• Do not overdo it. Too much product or too long on the hive can drive bees out of the brood nest or leave odour in the honey.
• Some products have strong smells that can cling to equipment and clothing. Read reviews and the label before you buy.

Bee blowers

A bee blower is a high-volume, low-pressure blower used to blow bees off frames or out of a super stood on end in front of the hive. Some people use a leaf blower set to a low speed.

Pros: fast, no chemicals, one visit, works in cool weather. Cons: noisy, bees end up in the air everywhere, and too much force can injure bees. Many beekeepers who use blowers stand the super on its end on a cover beside the hive and blow down between the frames so bees land near the entrance.

Blowers make the most sense for beekeepers with several hives or out-yards where a second visit is inconvenient.

Shaking and brushing

The simplest method: lift each frame, give it a sharp downward shake over the open hive, then brush off the remaining bees with a soft bee brush and put the frame in a covered empty box.

• Use a soft brush and gentle, quick strokes; bees dislike being brushed slowly.
• Keep the clean box covered with a cloth or lid so bees do not climb back on or robbers find it.
• Expect a more defensive colony. Smoke lightly and wear full protection.

For one or two hives this is often all you need. Our bee brush guide covers what to look for.

Preventing robbing during harvest

Harvest season often overlaps with a dearth, which is when robbing is most likely. Exposed honey turns a quiet apiary into a frenzy quickly.

• Keep cleared supers covered at all times, top and bottom.
• Work quickly and do not leave supers stacked open in the yard.
• Reduce entrances on weaker colonies during harvest.
• Move supers indoors or into a vehicle promptly.
• Clean up spilled honey and drips.

For more, see robbing behaviour and how to handle wet supers after extraction.

Which method should you choose?

Whichever you use, confirm that the frames are capped (or that moisture is low enough) before you take them, and leave the colony enough stores for the season ahead. See how much honey to leave.

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

There is no single best way to clear supers. Escape boards are gentle and cheap but need two visits. Fume boards are fast but depend on warm weather and careful label use. Blowers suit larger operations. Brushing is fine for small jobs. Pick the one that fits your hive count and schedule, and keep every exposed super covered to avoid starting a robbing frenzy.