The Demaree Method: My Favourite Way to Prevent Swarms and Triple Your Honey Yield
Developed by George Demaree in 1892, this elegant two-box manipulation tricks the colony into thinking it has already swarmed — keeping every forager working the nectar flow while you harvest up to three times more honey. Essential reading for anyone managing around 10 hives in Sweden's short but intense summer.
The Demaree method, developed by George Whitfield Demaree (1832–1915) and first published in the American Bee Journal in 1892, is one of the most elegant swarm control techniques ever devised. More than 130 years later, it remains a cornerstone for beekeepers who want productive colonies during the critical nectar flow — and it happens to be my personal favourite.
The Core Idea
A colony's swarming impulse is triggered by congestion. When the queen runs out of space to lay eggs and young nurse bees have nowhere to deposit newly capped brood, the colony prepares to split. The Demaree method relieves this congestion instantly by separating the queen from the bulk of the brood — convincing the colony, on a biological level, that it has already swarmed.
Step-by-Step: How to Perform a Demaree
The best time to apply the Demaree is when you spot the first queen cells (typically late May to early June in Sweden), or proactively when the hive becomes very populous in spring.
Step 1 — Locate the queen. Find her on one of the lower frames. Move the frame she is on, plus one frame of young open brood, into the bottom brood box. Fill the rest of the bottom box with drawn empty comb or foundation.
Step 2 — Move all remaining brood up. Place all capped brood, older open brood, and any existing queen cells into a second brood box stacked on top.
Step 3 — Insert a queen excluder between the two boxes. The queen is now confined to the bottom. Foragers and the queen are together below; the brood is above.
Step 4 — Add a super (honey box) between the two brood boxes. This gives foragers immediate space to deposit nectar and dramatically reduces congestion at the precise moment the flow begins.
Step 5 — Inspect on day 7–10. Open the top brood box and destroy every queen cell you find. This is the most critical step — missing even one can result in a swarm emerging from the upper box. After this inspection the colony settles into a "post-swarm" state and redirects all its energy into honey production.
Why It Works So Well in Sweden
Sweden's nectar flow is intense but short. Lime trees (linden) peak in July for roughly two to four weeks, with clover and phacelia contributing before that. A colony that swarms loses up to half its foragers at exactly the wrong moment. The Demaree method keeps every single bee in the hive and working.
In colder northern climates like Svinninge's, colonies also build up slowly in spring. By the time the nectar flow starts, your hives should be packed with bees. Demaree ensures that strength is channelled into honey rather than reproduction.
Honey Yields: What to Realistically Expect
A colony that swarms mid-flow typically yields 5–15 kg of honey. A well-managed Demaree colony in the same apiary can yield 25–40 kg in a good year — sometimes more. That gap represents the difference between a colony spending weeks rebuilding its population and one that never stops foraging.
The exact numbers depend on local forage, colony strength, and weather. But across multiple seasons at our apiary, the yield difference between managed and unmanaged colonies has been consistent and significant.
Ideal for 5–20 Hive Operations
The Demaree is particularly well-suited for hobbyist-to-semi-commercial beekeepers managing 5–20 hives. The full manipulation takes roughly 30–45 minutes per hive, plus the follow-up inspection. At larger scales (50+ hives) simpler artificial swarm methods may be more practical. But at around 10 hives, Demaree is hard to beat for the return on effort invested.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Missing queen cells on the day 7–10 check. Go through every frame in the top box meticulously. Queen cells can hide on the sides of frames and between comb and box walls. Take your time.
Timing errors. Apply too early (before the swarm impulse peaks) and the colony may not respond fully. Apply too late (after a swarm has already left) and you are managing a queenless situation.
No drawn comb in the bottom box. Foundation slows the queen's laying. Use drawn comb whenever possible to give her immediate space.
Skipping the follow-up inspection. Many beekeepers perform the split correctly but skip the day 7–10 check. Always mark the date in your hive records before you close the box.
Summary
The Demaree method is my favourite swarm control technique because it preserves colony strength, is biologically elegant, and dramatically improves honey yields during Sweden's short but intense nectar windows. If you manage around 10 hives and haven't tried it yet, this season is the time to start.