In order to keep honeybees,at first you have to catch a swarm of bees. The best way is to catch one that has just swarmed. They swarm in spring,you observe them carefully on a sunny day. Or if people find it,they may report it to the environment maintenance office of the city. So it is also good to ask the officer in advance to tell you if there is a report of a swarm.

How to catch a swarm

Honeybees don't sting you even if you approach a swarm closely. If you have a nest box of Western Honeybees, you can drive them into it with a broom. You can substitute a simple wooden box with an entrance for bees to come in. If you find a swarm at a tall position, you can temporaly drive the swarm into a thick paper box and later transfer it into a nest box. I am sure that you'll succeed it if you don't make haste.

How to catch bees from the nest

Though Japanese Honeybees are calm, they sometimes sting you. They tend to attack black objects,so you are advised to wear white clothes when you catch bees from the nest. Make sure that your skin is not exposed.
The nest consists of several combs. Don't break the nest violently or the honey will leak out of the nest. Shake the nest gently and spray water,and you can separate bees from the nest. Remove the comb one by one,and you can catch the bees with a net.

vibrate nest	spray with water

Setting the nest box

The best place to set the nest is a place where the sun doesn't shine directly, such as the corner of your garden. You don't have to take special care. Worker bees diligently gather pollen and honey on a sunny day,unless it is very cold.
You should clean the nest once a month in spring and autumn.when flowers are blooming. Bees don't run away in these seasons, but sometimes run away in summer when it is hot and few flowers are blooming. Make sure the sun doesn't light the nest directly. It gets so hot inside that bees get outside. But it is not a serious matter.
You must be careful in spring when they begin swarming. If people see the swarm,it sometimes may be dangerous. In my experience,you should place a sign directs them to the nest and have flowers bloom through the season.

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