Swarm Commander® Honey Bee Probiotic
Swarm Commander® Honey Bee Probiotic is a liquid microbial supplement for honey bees — a blend of nine live beneficial bacterial strains that beekeepers add to feed, or mist directly over the colony, to support a balanced gut microbiome. It's most often used through buildup and during stress periods such as splits, requeening, and transport. It comes in a Tip-N-Pour bottle with a built-in measuring chamber, so dosing is straightforward.
Features
- Blend of nine live beneficial bacterial strains (Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Enterococcus species)
- Two ways to use: add to sugar syrup, or mist undiluted over bees and frames
- Tip-N-Pour bottle with a built-in dosing chamber for easy measuring
- Ready to use — no culturing or activation step
- Often used during spring buildup and stress events (splits, requeening, transport)
How to use
- Shake well before each use.
- In feed: mix 2–4 oz of probiotic per gallon of 1:1 sugar syrup and feed as part of your normal feeding routine.
- Direct application: with a clean hand-pump sprayer, mist 2–4 oz undiluted over the bees and exposed frames.
- Reapply every 1–2 weeks during the active season.
- Do not use during a honey flow or while honey supers are on the hive.
What's in it
The supplement contains a blend of bacteria commonly used in animal probiotics, selected for their roles in digestion and maintaining a stable gut environment:
- Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus coagulans
- Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Enterococcus faecium
Before you order
- Timing: Best used during buildup and stress periods, not during a honey flow.
- Not for use with honey supers on — apply only when supers are off.
- Storage: These are live cultures — keep the bottle cool and shake before use.
- This is a supplement, not a treatment for any specific brood or mite disease. Follow label directions.
Pairs Well With
- Apitablet Feeding Stimulant — a feeding stimulant to pair with your syrup routine
- Beekeepers Choice Feeding Stimulant — another stimulant option for spring and fall feeding
- Ceracell 10 Frame Top Feeder — a high-capacity top feeder for delivering syrup
Specifications
- Type: liquid probiotic feed supplement for honey bees
- Microbial blend: Bacillus subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. pumilus, B. coagulans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei, L. plantarum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Enterococcus faecium
- Application rate: 2–4 oz per gallon of syrup, or 2–4 oz misted undiluted
- Packaging: Tip-N-Pour bottle with built-in dosing chamber
- Brand: Swarm Commander
FAQ
When should I use it?
During spring buildup and around stress events like splits, requeening, and transport. Avoid using it during a honey flow.
Can I feed it in syrup?
Yes — mix 2–4 oz per gallon of 1:1 sugar syrup and feed as usual. You can also mist it undiluted over the bees and frames.
Is it safe around honey I'll harvest?
Apply only when honey supers are off and not during a flow, so it isn't introduced into honey you plan to harvest.
How often should I apply it?
Every 1–2 weeks during the active season is a common routine. Follow the label for your situation.
Does it replace a smoker?
Some beekeepers mist it over the frames to help settle bees during inspections, but it is not a substitute for protective gear or normal hive-handling precautions.
