Merging two colonies into one

Not every weak colony can be nursed back. When a colony has lost its queen and its numbers have fallen far enough, merging it into another preserves what is left rather than watching it fade.

When to merge

• Queenless, with no queen cells to raise a replacement.
• Numbers very low and the brood essentially gone.
• Heading into the dry season, when a weak colony is unlikely to survive.

When not to merge

If the colony still has a queen and brood, let it recover on its own and address the root cause instead — ants, heat or damp. Merging a queenright colony into another wastes it and provokes unnecessary conflict.

The paper method

The safest approach lets the two sides learn each other's scent before they meet. Place the weak colony's nest into the strong colony's box with a sheet of thin paper between them, pierced with a few small holes. The bees chew through the paper over several days; by the time they meet, the scents have mixed and they do not fight.

Timing

Late afternoon, when most bees are home and activity has slowed. Merging in the middle of the day while bees are flying raises the chance of conflict.

Afterwards

Do not open the box for at least two weeks. Watch the entrance: an unusual number of dead bees in the first few days means the two sides are fighting, though it usually settles. After two weeks, steady traffic with pollen coming in means the merge has worked.

Frequently asked

Will the merged colony be much stronger?

Stronger than the weak colony was, but not the simple sum of the two — some older workers are lost. The aim is to save the brood and young bees, not to double the colony.

Can three colonies be merged at once?

No. One into one, and let it stabilise before doing anything else.

Can different species be merged?

No. Merge only within the same species; different stingless bee species do not integrate.