Moving hives is heavy and risky work. Most losses come from three things: overheating, mechanical damage and escaping bees.

Ventilation — the critical point

A closed colony generates heat. In a moving vehicle, without airflow, the temperature rises quickly.

Overheating is the commonest cause of loss in transport. Colonies can be lost within hours.

• Use a screened travel top instead of a solid one
• Keep the mesh floor open
• Do not stop with the load covered; a stationary vehicle has no airflow
• Move at night or in cool weather

Securing

Hive parts must be fastened together so they cannot shift.

• Straps or clips between boxes
• Frames must not slide; fill or wedge empty space
• Secure the load to the vehicle
• Set hives with frames running along the direction of travel; combs swing less that way

Comb collapsing in transit both kills bees and destroys the frames.

Timing

Colonies are moved when all the flying bees are home: at night, or before dawn.

Moving during the day leaves the foragers behind.

Closing the entrance

• Close it with a screen rather than a solid block; airflow must continue
• Close it after flight has ended
• Open it as soon as possible on arrival
• Open entrances at the new site in the evening or early morning

The three-kilometre question

Bees return to their old site. A common guide is that a move of less than about three kilometres leads to losses because the foragers go back.

For short moves the usual approaches are: move to a distant site and return later, or shift the hive gradually a short distance at a time.

On arrival

• Open the entrances and let the colonies settle
• Do not inspect the same day
• Face the hives in different directions to reduce drifting
• Provide water
• Feed if there is no flow

Health and regulation

Movement is subject to registration and notification in many countries. Colonies should be checked for disease before being moved; transport is the main route by which pests reach new areas.