How to Beeline a Hive

Beelining is the ancient art of following a bee back to its hive. Used for untold ages, it takes advantage of the fact that a bee, once full of honey, will fly a "beeline" back to the hive in the straightest line possible. Although feral hives have become rarer in recent decades, they can still be found in warmer climates, and beelining is an effective tool for a beekeeper to recover a lost swarm. Both are a valuable find and worth the effort taken in making a beeline for their hive.

Things You'll Need

  • Box or plastic container with clear lid
  • Card stock
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Honey or sugar syrup
  • Compass
  • Local map
  • Pencil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Divide the box into two or three sections with the card stock, taping the pieces securely into place. A container with a flexible lid could be used, or cut the lid a third of the way to center so parts can be opened individually.

    • 2

      Put a little honey or sugar syrup into the bottom of your container and let it stand in a warm, sunny location. The odor will soon begin to attract honeybees.

    • 3

      Capture several bees by placing the lid back on your container. Get your compass ready and release one. She will circle overhead once or twice and make a beeline for the hive. Note the compass heading and draw a straight pencil line on the map from your location continuing off up to a mile on the map.

    • 4

      Move to a new location about 100 yards from the original spot and perpendicular to it. Release another bee and take her heading and mark it on the map. The place where the two lines cross is the likely location of the hive.

    • 5

      Take a third reading with another bee, again moving at least 100 yards and in a different direction from the second reading. This is to confirm the direction of the hive. Using the map, you should be able to proceed to the location of the hive and determine if it is a feral hive.