Bee Brushes

A bee brush is a single-row brush with long, soft bristles used to sweep bees off frames, boxes or clothing without crushing or injuring them. It is used mostly for clearing bees from honey frames during the harvest, collecting swarms and searching for the queen. Because a brush can anger the bees when used wrongly, the right technique and a clean brush matter.

What is a bee brush used for?

• Honey harvest: After a honey frame taken from the super has been shaken, the remaining bees are brushed back into the hive.
• Collecting swarms: Swarm bees left on a branch, a wall or the edge of the box are guided into the collecting box.
• Inspections and splits: Clearing a frame of bees to see the brood, eggs or signs of disease; moving bees into the chosen hive when making a split.
• Hive edges and lid: Sweeping bees gathered on the edges back inside before closing a box, so that they are not crushed.
• Clothing: Gently removing bees from your suit as you leave the apiary.

What types of bee brush are there?

Natural-bristle bee brush

These brushes are made from natural bristles such as horsehair and are usually light in colour. The bristles are soft and flexible and gentle on the bees. On the other hand, they gum up easily with honey and propolis and wear out with repeated washing.

Synthetic-bristle bee brush

These have nylon or similar synthetic bristles. They are easier to wash and disinfect, and honey sticks to the bristles less. A good synthetic brush should have long, fine bristles with soft tips; stiff-bristled brushes injure and anger bees.

Goose feathers and wings

In traditional beekeeping a goose wing or large bird feathers were used instead of a brush, and some beekeepers still prefer them. A feather sweeps bees very gently, but once soiled with honey and propolis it is hard to clean, so for hygiene it should be thought of as disposable.

What should you look for when choosing a bee brush?

• Bristle length and softness: Long, soft bristles roll the bee off as they sweep; short, stiff bristles injure legs and wings.
• A single row of bristles: A single row stops bees getting trapped between the bristles.
• Colour: Light-coloured (yellow, white, cream) bristles are preferred. Dark, furry surfaces can heighten the bees' defensive response.
• Ease of cleaning: Synthetic bristles and an unpainted or water-resistant handle make washing easier.
• Handle: It should be long enough to grip comfortably with gloves on, and have a hole for hanging.

How do you use a bee brush?

Good brushing does not push the bee; it rolls it off.

1. Shake first: Hold the honey frame over the hive and shake it downwards with a short, sharp jerk. Most of the bees fall off this way; the brush is only for those that remain.
2. Hold the frame upright: Hold the frame vertically over the hive or an empty box, so the bees you brush off fall straight into the hive.
3. Light and in one direction: Flick the brush from the wrist in light, quick strokes, from top to bottom in one direction. Going over the same spot again and again, and pressing down, angers the bees.
4. Use the tips of the bristles: Do not lay the brush flat on the surface; only the bristle tips should touch the bees.
5. Stop when it gets sticky: If the bristles start to clog with honey, dip the brush in water and shake it out. A sticky brush does not sweep bees; it drags and crushes them.

What are the alternatives to a bee brush?

• Shaking: The fastest method for most frames; it angers the bees less than brushing.
• Bee escape (clearer board): A board with a one-way passage placed under the honey super moves the bees down out of the box within a day or two; it greatly reduces the need for a brush at harvest.
• Bee blower: In large operations, bees in the honey supers are driven off with a stream of air.
• Smoke: Light smoke drives bees down off the frames, but too much at harvest taints the honey.

How do you clean a bee brush?

• After every use: Dissolve the honey in lukewarm water, comb the bristles out and hang the brush up to dry.
• Propolis and wax: A solution of lukewarm water and washing soda cleans the bristles; boiling water ruins natural bristles.
• Hygiene: The brush is one of the tools that most often goes from hive to hive. A brush used on a hive suspected of disease must not be used on another hive; if a notifiable disease is suspected, report it to the official veterinary service / local agriculture authority, and clean or destroy the brush as instructed by the authorities.
• Replacement: Replace a brush whose bristles are falling out, stiffening or thinning; it is a cheap tool, and a worn one harms the bees.

Common mistakes

• Pressing down while brushing: Bees are crushed and alarm pheromone is released.
• Carrying on with a brush clogged with honey: The bristles drag the bees and break their wings.
• Brushing in mid-air: Bees scatter onto the ground and around the apiary; the queen may be lost.
• A dark or stiff-bristled brush: It provokes the bees.