Two meanings of this question
People asking how to increase the bee population in a hive usually mean one of two things:
- Grow an existing colony that seems small or slow.
- Get bees into an empty hive, for example by attracting a wild swarm.
This article covers both, starting with the first because it is the more common beekeeping problem. A colony’s population (see how many bees live in a hive) depends mainly on the queen’s egg laying, the food coming in, space, and the health of the bees.
Start with the queen
Worker bees live for only weeks in the active season, so the colony relies on a steady supply of new brood. If the queen is failing, missing, or poorly mated, population drops.
Signs of a problem include spotty brood patterns, many drone cells in worker comb, or no eggs. If you find no eggs, no young larvae, and no queen, the colony may be queenless. Options include requeening with a purchased queen or giving the colony a frame of eggs from another hive so it can raise one. Both take time, as a new queen needs days to mate and begin laying.
Feed: nectar and pollen
Bees need carbohydrates from nectar and protein from pollen to raise brood. If forage is poor, brood rearing may slow. Suggestions include:
- Planting a variety of forage plants in your area.
- Feeding sugar syrup when natural nectar is scarce, such as early spring or during a dearth. Syrup in thin proportions is often used to stimulate colonies (see spring feeding for honey bees), but follow local guidance.
- Pollen substitute patties in times of low pollen, though bees prefer real pollen.
- Making sure honey stores are sufficient, especially in early spring when brood expands quickly.
Avoid leaving syrup where it might attract robbing, as covered in reading bee behavior at the hive entrance.
Give room to grow
A colony that is crowded may swarm, and one that has too much empty space can struggle to keep warm. Add boxes when most of the existing frames are occupied, and avoid giving a small colony much more space than it can cover. Reducing the entrance in early season can help a small colony defend itself and hold heat.
If a strong colony is crowded, you can use the surplus to help another one, for example by moving a frame of capped brood with its bees to a weaker hive. This should be done carefully so you do not weaken the donor or spread disease.
Control varroa and check for disease
Varroa mites are widely regarded as the top threat to honey bee colonies, and they spread viruses. A colony with a heavy mite load can lose bees quickly even if the queen lays well. Monitor mite levels using methods such as an alcohol wash or sugar roll, and treat when counts are above recommended thresholds for your region. Check brood for signs of disease (see what a healthy bee hive looks like). If you are not sure what you are seeing, ask your local bee inspector or club.
Spring buildup timing
In many temperate regions colonies start expanding brood in late winter or early spring and peak in early summer. A colony that looks small in early spring may be growing normally. Compare against other colonies in your area and against the same hive in previous years. For crowded colonies later in the season, see swarm cells and splitting a bee hive.
Adding bees from outside
If a colony is too weak to recover, options include:
- Combining it with another colony.
- Buying a nucleus colony (nuc) or package from a reputable supplier, which gives you bees, brood, and a queen.
- Making a split from a strong colony. This increases the number of colonies rather than the population of one, but it is a standard method of increasing your total bees.
Attracting a swarm to an empty hive
If your hive is empty, you can use a bait hive to try to attract a wild swarm in spring. The usual recipe is a cavity of about 40 liters, a small entrance, old comb, and a drop or two of lemongrass oil. Our guide to attracting a swarm of honey bees has the details. Success depends on whether swarms are around, so it is not guaranteed.
Helping honey bees in your area
If you mean the wider bee population rather than one hive, steps that help include planting flowers that bloom across the seasons, avoiding pesticides where possible or spraying only when bees are not foraging, providing clean water, and leaving some undisturbed areas. These help both managed honey bees and wild pollinators.
FAQ
What is the 3-3-3 rule for beekeeping? The phrase has different meanings in different sources. A common version is moving a hive either less than three feet or more than three miles. It is not a rule for increasing bee numbers.
How do I get more bees into a beehive in Minecraft? That is a game question rather than a beekeeping one. In the game, bees are generally attracted to flowers and beehive blocks, so check the game’s own documentation for current mechanics.