Swarm trap

The swarm funnel is designed to catch the swarm that is about to leave the skep. When a colony in a skep is about to swarm, a beard of bees will form. This is a cluster of bees on the skep. They briefly pull back before departing, and this is the moment to mount the swarm funnel on the skep. After that the swarm emerges and is trapped in the swarm funnel.

Skep beekeepers often know when a swarm will emerge, and with this swarm funnel you can capture and keep your valuable swarm. In Germany this is traditionally used, among others, on the Lüneburger Stülper.