Clearing Honey Supers

There is no single best method for every beekeeper. Your choice will depend on the number of hives you manage, whether you are removing complete supers or selected frames, and whether you can return to the apiary the following day.

For one or two hives, shaking and brushing individual frames may be all you need. A clearer board provides a gentler, largely hands-off solution for several colonies. For a larger apiary, a cordless blower can save considerable time and allow supers to be removed in one visit.

Whichever method you choose, prepare clean covers or containers before opening the hive. Cleared supers should be covered immediately to prevent bees from returning and to reduce the risk of robbing.

A bee brush is the simplest and least expensive way to clear a small number of frames.

Remove one frame at a time, check carefully that the queen is not present and give the frame a firm shake over the hive. Gently brush the remaining bees from the comb and place the cleared frame immediately into an empty, covered super.

Brush bees away with light, deliberate strokes. Avoid repeatedly rolling bees across the comb, and clean the brush if its bristles become sticky with honey or propolis.

A clearer board is placed immediately below the supers being removed. Its one-way escapes allow bees to travel down towards the brood nest but make it difficult for them to return.

Most boards are fitted during the afternoon and the supers are collected the following morning. This means an additional apiary visit, but it avoids handling and brushing every frame individually.

Always check that the board is fitted the right way up, sits flat and has no gaps around its edges. Clean and test the escapes before use.

Porter escapes use spring-loaded arms that allow bees to pass in one direction. They are compact and inexpensive, but propolis and debris can prevent the springs from working correctly.

Rhombus escapes create a simple one-way maze. They have no springs or moving parts and are generally easy to inspect and clean.

Canadian and other maze-style boards use multiple routes to encourage bees to move down. Some provide additional space beneath the escape, which can be useful with strong colonies or several supers.

A basic clearer board can be made by fitting one or more bee escapes to a crownboard or to a sheet of exterior-grade plywood framed with timber battens.

Begin by choosing the escape you want to use. Porter escapes require accurately prepared slots or holes. Rhombus and maze escapes need enough unobstructed space around their entrances and exits.

Match the outside dimensions to your hive type and make the board bee-tight around every edge. Allow adequate space beneath the escape, mark the top clearly and ensure there are no sharp edges or projecting fixings.

Test the finished board before harvest. It should sit flat, support the weight of full supers and contain no gaps through which bees could return.

A blower removes bees from between the frames using a controlled stream of air. This allows supers to be cleared and removed during one apiary visit, making the method especially useful for larger numbers of colonies.

Stand the super securely on end or position it so that displaced bees are directed onto the ground near the front of the hive. Work systematically through the gaps between the frames using only the airflow needed to move the bees.

A clean cordless electric blower is normally preferable to a petrol-powered machine around honey. It avoids exhaust fumes and is easier to carry between colonies.

Keep the nozzle away from the comb, avoid directing dust or debris into the super and check carefully that the queen is not present.

1. Confirm that the honey is ready to remove and check that there is no brood in the supers.
2. Clean the bee escapes and make sure any springs or moving parts operate freely.
3. Place the clearer board immediately below all the supers you want to remove.
4. Check that the escapes face the correct direction and that the board sits flat without gaps.
5. Replace the supers, crownboard and roof.
6. Return the following morning or within the period recommended for your particular escape.
7. Remove the cleared supers and cover them immediately.
8. Brush or gently blow away any remaining bees.
9. Remove the clearer board when it is no longer needed.

Prepare everything before opening the hive. Honey is food, so all supers, covers and transport equipment should be clean and protected from soil, dust, fuel, smoke and other contaminants.

Useful equipment includes a clean bee brush, a spare covered super, a hive tool, temporary covers, ratchet straps and clean stands or transport containers.

If you are using a blower, charge its battery and carry a spare if you have several colonies to clear. If you are beginning varroa treatment at the same visit, take the authorised treatment, appropriate protective equipment and your treatment record with you.