EZPZ Swarm Cell Harvester Kit

This complete kit is centered on the EZPZ Swarm Cell Cage  and has everything you need. It is a no-graft queen rearing technique. Swarm cells can make excellent queens and this kit will help you to maximize your results during swarm season by safely collecting swarm cells and protecting them for emergence.

 Carefully remove ripe swarm cells even from plastic foundation using a hobby knife with a #18 chisel blade (included) by cutting away around it then sliding the knife in behind it. This is safest with cells that are Day 13 or older in order to avoid the sensitive development phase of days 10-12. If a portion of the cell is exposed, it should be placed against the wall of the cage to close the cell.

 Place the cell in the cradle of the cage as shown. Add a drop of honey and a drop of water into the small troughs at the bottom of the cage if desired and close carefully. Excess wax may need to be cut away before it will close properly. Be careful not to smash the cell while cutting, handling and placing in the cell. The Grafting Stand is helpful for holding the frame upright while doing this. Bare hands or nitrile gloves are recommended for this work but it can be accomplished with thicker gloves with some patience.

 Closed cages may be placed in the Tray to facilitate handling and for holding in an incubator. Alternatively, the Banker Bar may be used. Carefully snap it into a standard deep Langstroth frame. If it slides back and forth too easily, it can be secured with tape or wax. The Banker Bar should be placed into a strong colony and checked daily. If the colony is queenright, placing it above a queen excluder is recommended. 

 Once emerged, your new queens can be evaluated for quality and introduced into mating nucs. Prepare queen candy as described on the page for Candy Caps and use the transfer adapter to move the queens from the Swarm Cell Cages to the EZPZ Queen Cages then cap. Introduce by placing the cage between two frames near brood tilted downward by about 15 degrees. Note: some beekeepers have success introducing virgins uncaged.

 I also recommend the book Queen Rearing Essentials to hone your skills.

Knife and #18 blade
15 Swarm Cell Cages
15 EZPZ Queen Cages
1 Transfer adapter
1 30 Cage Tray
15 Cage Plugs
15 Candy Caps
Frame Stand
Syringe & blunt needle
Marking pen
1 Deep Banker

The syringe is for adding a drop of honey and a drop of water into the troughs at the bottom of each cage.  Leave the long needle off to start and suck up a bunch of honey into the syringe. Place the needle on the tip and carefully add a drop into one trough of each cage. Then empty the syringe and refill it with water. Add the needle and practice dispensing a drop or two outside the cages (it's actually harder than honey because it tends to squirt out too much) before applying a couple of drops into the other trough in each cage.

Product Care