Build a Bee Vacuum

Afew years ago, my son and I purchased our first nuc of bees for $50. These days, hive nucs can go for $150 or more. With a rapid increase in the number of beekeepers in the United States, demand has driven up the cost of all things necessary for this already pricey hobby — including the bees themselves.

If you’re willing and able to remove swarms, though, bees are free for the taking. In fact, some folks will pay you to remove bees from inside their home or on their property. But if the bees have entered the ceiling joists through a bathroom vent, as had one swarm we removed, you’ll need a “bee vacuum” to contain the bees before tearing out the drywall. And a bee vac is another piece of pricey equipment — unless you build your own.

The following bee vac uses a bucket vacuum we purchased new, a hive super we already had, and two more boxes I’ll describe how to build here.

To create