The bee brush sweeps bees from comb and hive parts. It is simple equipment that used wrongly does more harm than good.

What it is for

• At harvest: Brushing bees off super frames
• When making a nuc: Brushing bees into the new hive
• When collecting a swarm from a wall or post
• When clearing hive edges before closing

Requirements for the bristles

• Soft and long; hard bristles injure the bees
• A single row; a dense head traps bees between the bristles
• Smooth material they cannot catch on

The technique

• Brush downward, in the direction the bees are facing
• One stroke per area; brushing back and forth agitates strongly
• Do not press; crushed bees release alarm pheromone
• Preferably over the hive, so the bees fall back in

Why brushing agitates

Brushing is the most disturbing way to remove bees. The colony becomes restless and defensive, and that persists after the operation.

For harvest there are calmer methods:

• Clearer board: The bees leave the super overnight; calmest for the colony
• Blower: Fast, suitable for larger operations

Brushing remains useful for individual frames and small operations.

Hygiene

The brush contacts honey, wax and propolis — and in an infected colony, spores.

• Wash regularly and dry completely
• Do not use between hives where disease is suspected
• A sticky brush agitates the bees further

The alternative

A handful of fresh grass or a feather does the same job. What counts is that it is soft and crushes no bees.