8 Frame Double Wax Dipped Honey Bee Swarm Catcher Beehive

Capture honey bee swarms with confidence using the 8 Frame Double Wax Dipped Honey Bee Swarm Catcher Beehive from Lappe’s Bee Supply. This fully assembled 8-frame Langstroth hive is designed to work as both a swarm catcher and a permanent home for your new colony, reducing the need to transfer bees into another hive after they move in.

Instead of hanging a temporary bait box high in a tree, simply place this hive where you want the colony to live. Scout bees can investigate the hive cavity and Triple Wax Coated frames, and once a swarm moves in, the bees can begin building comb and establishing their brood nest right away.

Every major wooden component is professionally Double Wax Dipped for long-lasting protection against moisture and weather exposure. Combined with your choice of Triple Wax Coated frames and a solid or screened bottom board, this swarm catcher is built for convenience, durability, and dependable performance through swarm season and beyond.

Why Beekeepers Choose This 8 Frame Swarm Catcher

This hive is more than a temporary swarm trap. It is a ready-to-use 8-frame Langstroth hive designed for permanent swarm placement and future expansion.

Benefits Include

• Fully assembled and ready to place
• Professionally Double Wax Dipped woodenware
• Lighter, easier-to-manage 8-frame Langstroth design
• Designed for catching swarms and keeping them in the same hive
• Includes one deep brood chamber
• Includes your choice of Triple Wax Coated frame options
• Choice of solid bottom board or screened bottom board
• Includes wax dipped telescoping lid, inner cover, and entrance reducer
• No painting required
• Easy to expand with additional 8-frame hive bodies or honey supers

Premium Double Wax Dipped Protection

Each wooden component is protected using Lappe’s premium Double Wax Dipping Process. During this process, the woodenware is immersed in hot wax so the wax can penetrate deep into the wood fibers, helping protect the equipment from moisture, weather exposure, swelling, warping, and decay.

Unlike paint, which mainly protects the outside surface, wax becomes part of the wood itself. This helps create a durable, low-maintenance hive that is ready for outdoor use without painting or staining.

Over time, the exterior color may naturally lighten from sun and weather exposure. This is cosmetic only. The wax absorbed into the wood continues helping protect the hive for years of use.

Triple Wax Coated Frames for Faster Swarm Acceptance

This 8-frame swarm catcher includes your choice of premium Triple Wax Coated frames. The heavy wax coating helps make the hive more attractive to scout bees and encourages newly captured swarms to begin drawing comb sooner.

Choose from:

• Assembled wooden frames with Triple Wax Coated foundation
• Triple Wax Coated one-piece plastic frames

Available foundation color options include:

• Natural yellow
• Black

Black foundation can make it easier to see eggs and evaluate brood activity, while yellow foundation offers the familiar natural look many beekeepers prefer. Foundation color does not determine bee acceptance; it is mainly a beekeeper preference.

Please note: when wooden-frame options are selected, the wooden frame pieces themselves are intentionally left untreated because they remain protected inside the hive. The foundation receives the Triple Wax coating that encourages the bees to accept the surface and begin building comb.

What’s Included

Your 8 Frame Double Wax Dipped Honey Bee Swarm Catcher Beehive includes:

• (1) Double Wax Dipped 8 Frame Deep Brood Box
• (8) Your choice of Triple Wax Coated assembled wooden frames or Triple Wax Coated one-piece plastic frames
• (1) Double Wax Dipped Telescoping Lid
• (1) Double Wax Dipped Inner Cover
• (1) Your choice of Double Wax Dipped Solid Bottom Board or Double Wax Dipped Screened Bottom Board
• (1) Double Wax Dipped 2-Sided Entrance Reducer

Everything arrives assembled and ready to place in your selected swarm-catching location.

Product Specifications

• Hive size: 8 Frame Langstroth
• Style: Swarm catcher / single-story starter hive
• Assembly: Fully assembled
• Brood chamber: Deep brood box
• Woodenware finish: Double Wax Dipped
• Frame options: Triple Wax Coated wooden frames or Triple Wax Coated one-piece plastic frames
• Foundation color options: Natural yellow or black
• Bottom board options: Solid bottom board or screened bottom board
• Lid style: Telescoping lid
• Includes inner cover and entrance reducer
• No painting required
• Designed for permanent swarm placement and future hive expansion

Ideal For

This 8-frame swarm catcher hive is perfect for:

• Capturing natural honey bee swarms
• Setting up swarm bait locations
• Expanding your apiary naturally
• Replacing winter colony losses
• Starting a new hive from a captured swarm
• Beekeepers who prefer lighter 8-frame equipment
• Hobby beekeepers
• Sideline beekeepers
• Permanent swarm hive installations

How This Swarm Catcher Works

Place the hive where you want the colony to live before swarm season begins. Scout bees searching for a new home can inspect the hive cavity and wax-coated frames. Once a swarm moves in, the colony can remain in the same hive instead of being transferred from a temporary trap into permanent equipment.

As the colony grows, simply add additional 8-frame deep hive bodies or honey supers just as you would with any standard Langstroth hive. This makes swarm catching easier on the beekeeper and less disruptive for the bees.

Product Notes

This hive is assembled using commercial-grade hive components. Some knots, cracks, surface variations, and natural wood characteristics may be visible and do not affect normal use.

Some areas of the wax dipped woodenware may appear lighter or less coated than others because the wax can absorb into the wood differently from piece to piece. The equipment is still wax dipped and protected.

Splits from stapling may occur due to natural wood grain, especially on frames. These do not compromise the structure or usability of the frame.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a temporary swarm trap?

No. This is an 8-frame Langstroth hive designed to catch a swarm and become the colony’s permanent home. Once bees move in, they can remain in the same hive.

Does this hive come fully assembled?

Yes. The hive body, lid, inner cover, bottom board, entrance reducer, and selected frames arrive assembled and ready to place.

What bottom board options are available?

You can choose either a solid bottom board or a screened bottom board.

Why are Triple Wax Coated frames included?

Triple Wax Coated frames provide a heavier wax surface that encourages scout bees to inspect the hive and helps newly captured swarms begin drawing comb more quickly.

Should I choose yellow or black foundation?

Both options work for the bees. Yellow foundation provides a natural beeswax-like appearance, while black foundation can make eggs easier to see during inspections.

Is all of the wooden equipment Double Wax Dipped?

The main wooden hive components are Double Wax Dipped, including the hive body, lid, inner cover, bottom board, and entrance reducer. If you choose assembled wooden frames, the wooden frame pieces are left untreated because they are protected inside the hive; the foundation receives the Triple Wax coating.

Can I expand this hive after catching a swarm?

Yes. After the colony becomes established, you can expand the hive by adding compatible 8-frame deep hive bodies or honey supers.

Does the hive need to be painted?

No. The Double Wax Dipped finish protects the woodenware and eliminates the need for painting before use.