Product Overview
5 Frame Double Wax Dipped Honey Bee Swarm Catcher Beehive with Triple Wax Coated Frames - Assembled
Catch and establish honey bee swarms with the 5 Frame Double Wax Dipped Honey Bee Swarm Catcher Beehive with Triple Wax Coated Frames from Lappe’s Bee Supply. This fully assembled 5-frame nuc-style swarm catcher is designed for beekeepers who want a compact, ready-to-use hive for catching swarms, starting smaller colonies, making splits, and managing nucs.
Instead of hanging a temporary swarm trap high in a tree, this 5-frame swarm catcher can be placed where you want the colony to live. Set it on a pallet, hive stand, or cement blocks in your selected swarm-catching location, and scout bees can investigate the hive cavity and wax-coated frames. Once a swarm moves in, the bees can begin building comb and establishing the colony right in the same hive.
This single-story setup includes a 9-5/8" deep 5-frame hive body, 5 Triple Wax Coated frames, a telescoping lid, inner cover, and your choice of solid or screened bottom board. The compact 5-frame size is ideal for smaller swarms and nuc-style colony management while still giving the bees a practical, protected space to get started.
Each major wooden component is professionally Double Wax Dipped for long-lasting protection against moisture, weather exposure, swelling, warping, and decay. Unlike unfinished woodenware, this swarm catcher requires no painting or staining before use.
Whether you are catching swarms, building nucs, creating resource colonies, making splits, or adding compact hive equipment to your bee yard, this assembled 5-frame swarm catcher beehive is built for practical use season after season.
Why Beekeepers Choose This 5 Frame Swarm Catcher Beehive
This compact swarm catcher gives scout bees an inviting hive cavity while giving beekeepers a ready-to-use setup that can become the colony’s new home.
Benefits Include
- Fully assembled and ready to place
- Compact 5-frame nuc-style swarm catcher
- Professionally Double Wax Dipped woodenware
- Includes one 9-5/8" deep 5-frame hive body
- Includes 5 Triple Wax Coated frames
- Choice of assembled wooden frames or one-piece plastic frames
- Choice of natural yellow or black foundation
- Includes telescoping lid and inner cover
- Choice of solid bottom board or screened bottom board
- Great for catching swarms, making splits, and starting nucs
- No painting or staining required
- Lighter and easier to move than larger hive equipment
- Pairs with other 5-frame Double Wax Dipped hive components
Premium Double Wax Dipped Protection
Every major wooden component in this swarm catcher is protected using Lappe’s premium Double Wax Dipping Process. During this process, the woodenware is submerged in hot wax so the wax can penetrate deep into the wood fibers.
This helps defend the hive equipment against:
- Moisture
- Weather exposure
- Rot and decay
- Swelling
- Warping
- Long-term outdoor wear
Unlike paint, which mainly protects the outside surface, wax becomes part of the wood itself. This creates durable, low-maintenance woodenware that is ready for outdoor use without painting.
Over time, the exterior wax color may naturally lighten from sun and weather exposure. This is cosmetic only. The wax absorbed into the wood continues helping protect the equipment for years of use.
Built by Beekeepers in East Peru, Iowa
Our double wax dipped bee hive equipment is built in East Peru, Iowa, by beekeepers who have been working with honey bees since 1978. Every piece is made with real-world beekeeping experience behind it, so it's designed for durability, protection, and practical use in the bee yard.
At Lappe’s Bee Supply, our wax dipped woodenware is more than just hive equipment. It is built by people who understand what beekeepers need season after season: equipment that holds up outdoors, fits properly, protects the colony, and is easy to use during regular hive inspections.
Whether you are catching swarms, building nucs, making splits, or upgrading to Double Wax Dipped woodenware, this 5-frame swarm catcher beehive is made with practical beekeeping use in mind.
Why Buy From Lappe’s Bee Supply?
When you buy from Lappe’s Bee Supply, you are buying hive equipment from beekeepers who understand how it will be used in the bee yard. Our double wax dipped woodenware is built in East Peru, Iowa, with practical beekeeping experience behind every piece.
We have been working with honey bees since 1978, and that experience shapes how our equipment is built, protected, and assembled. From the fit of the woodenware to the durability of the wax dipped finish, our goal is to provide equipment that helps beekeepers spend less time preparing boxes and more time managing healthy colonies.
Why Beekeepers Choose Lappe’s
- Built by experienced beekeepers
- Double wax dipped for long-lasting outdoor protection
- No painting or staining required
- Designed for practical use in real apiaries
- Made for standard Langstroth-style compatibility
- Built to help protect your bees and your investment
- Shipped ready to use whenever possible
Whether you are setting out swarm catchers, replacing older nuc equipment, or expanding your bee yard with compact hive setups, Lappe’s Bee Supply gives you dependable bee hive equipment backed by decades of hands-on beekeeping experience.
Triple Wax Coated Frames for Faster Swarm Acceptance
This 5-frame swarm catcher includes your choice of premium Triple Wax Coated frames. The heavier wax coating helps encourage bees to accept the foundation and begin drawing comb more quickly.
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 during brood inspections once the colony is established, while yellow foundation provides the familiar natural beeswax appearance 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 are protected inside the hive. The foundation receives the Triple Wax coating that encourages bees to accept the surface and begin building comb.
Compact Swarm Catching Hive for Nucs, Splits & Swarms
A 5-frame swarm catcher is a practical size for smaller swarms and nuc-style colony management. The compact hive cavity gives scout bees an inviting space to inspect, while giving the colony a manageable area to occupy and defend after moving in.
This swarm catcher is useful for:
- Catching honey bee swarms
- Setting up swarm bait locations
- Starting nuc colonies
- Making splits from larger hives
- Holding smaller colonies
- Building resource colonies
- Queen management setups
- Backup colony management
- Expanding compact 5-frame equipment
Because the hive includes standard deep frames, a captured swarm can begin drawing comb, raising brood, storing pollen, and building food reserves right away.
Designed for Permanent Swarm Placement
This swarm catcher is designed so you can place the hive where you want the colony to stay. Instead of catching a swarm in a temporary trap and transferring it later, this setup allows the bees to move directly into usable hive equipment.
Place the hive on a stable stand, pallet, or cement blocks in your selected swarm-catching location. Once a swarm moves in and becomes established, the colony can remain in the same 5-frame hive setup or be expanded with compatible 5-frame equipment as needed.
This makes the process simpler for the beekeeper and less disruptive for the bees.
Choice of Solid or Screened Bottom Board
This swarm catcher includes your choice of bottom board style:
- Solid bottom board
- Screened bottom board
A solid bottom board provides a traditional enclosed hive base and is often preferred for year-round colony management. A screened bottom board can provide additional airflow through the lower hive and is often chosen by beekeepers who prefer added ventilation.
Both options are designed to fit compatible 5-frame Langstroth-style equipment and pair with the included hive body, frames, inner cover, and telescoping lid.
Telescoping Lid and Inner Cover Included
This 5-frame swarm catcher includes a Double Wax Dipped telescoping lid and inner cover to complete the top of the hive.
The telescoping lid helps shield the colony from rain, wind, snow, sun, and outdoor weather exposure. The inner cover sits beneath the telescoping lid and provides the proper barrier between the bees and the outer cover, helping support normal hive-top spacing and easier inspections.
Together, the lid and inner cover create a dependable hive-top setup for swarm catching, nucs, splits, and compact 5-frame colonies.
What’s Included
Your purchase includes:
- (1) Double Wax Dipped 5 Frame Telescoping Lid
- (1) Double Wax Dipped 5 Frame Inner Cover
- (1) Double Wax Dipped 5 Frame 9-5/8" Deep Hive Body
- (5) Deep frames in your selected Triple Wax Coated frame style and foundation color
- (1) Your choice of Double Wax Dipped Solid Bottom Board or Double Wax Dipped Screened Bottom Board
Everything arrives assembled and ready to place into service with your compatible 5-frame Langstroth-style hive setup.
Product Specifications
- Hive size: 5 Frame
- Product type: Honey bee swarm catcher beehive
- Assembly: Fully assembled
- Woodenware finish: Double Wax Dipped
- Hive body included: 1 deep hive body
- Hive body depth: 9-5/8"
- Total frames included: 5
- Frame options: Assembled wooden frames with Triple Wax Coated foundation 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
- Telescoping lid included: Yes
- Inner cover included: Yes
- Use: Swarm catching, nucs, splits, smaller colony management
- Painting required: No
- Brand: Lappe’s Bee Supply
- SKU: WXDP-2942
Ideal For
This 5-frame swarm catcher beehive is perfect for:
- Catching honey bee swarms
- Setting up swarm bait locations
- Starting nuc colonies
- Making hive splits
- Catching smaller swarms
- Holding backup colonies
- Queen management setups
- Resource colonies
- Compact colony growth
- Replacing older 5-frame swarm equipment
- Building a Double Wax Dipped 5-frame hive system
- Hobby beekeepers
- Sideline beekeepers
- Beekeepers who prefer compact nuc-style equipment
How This 5 Frame Swarm Catcher Fits Into Your Apiary
Place the swarm catcher on a stable hive stand, pallet, or cement blocks in the location where you want the colony to live. Scout bees can inspect the hive cavity and Triple Wax Coated frames during swarm season.
Once a swarm moves in, allow the colony to settle and begin drawing comb. The included deep frames provide space for brood rearing, pollen storage, nectar storage, and early colony growth.
As the colony grows, you can add compatible 5-frame equipment or move the colony into larger equipment based on your beekeeping plan. The compact size makes this hive especially useful for nuc management, swarm catching, splits, and smaller colony setups.
Product Notes
This hive is assembled using commercial-grade woodenware. 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 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.
The wooden frame pieces are intentionally left untreated when wooden-frame options are selected. The wooden frame parts are protected inside the hive, while the foundation receives the Triple Wax coating to encourage bee acceptance and comb building.
Over time, sun and weather exposure may lighten the outer wax appearance. This is cosmetic only and does not mean the wax protection is gone.
This product includes the listed 5-frame swarm catcher hive components only. Bees, feeders, extra hive bodies, queen excluders, and additional accessories are sold separately unless included with another kit or combo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this 5-frame swarm catcher fully assembled?
Yes. This 5-frame swarm catcher beehive arrives assembled and ready to place in your selected swarm-catching location.
What comes with this swarm catcher hive?
This hive includes a telescoping lid, inner cover, one 9-5/8" deep 5-frame hive body, 5 Triple Wax Coated frames, and your choice of solid or screened bottom board.
What size is the hive body?
The hive body is a 5-frame 9-5/8" deep box.
How many frames are included?
This swarm catcher includes 5 deep frames.
What frame options are available?
You can choose assembled wooden frames with Triple Wax Coated foundation or Triple Wax Coated one-piece plastic frames.
What foundation colors are available?
You can choose natural yellow foundation or black foundation.
Should I choose yellow or black foundation?
Both work for the bees. Black foundation can make it easier to see eggs during brood inspections once the colony is established, while yellow foundation provides a natural beeswax-like appearance that many beekeepers prefer.
Is this a temporary swarm trap?
No. This is a 5-frame hive setup that can be used as a swarm catcher and then kept as the colony’s home, depending on the size of the swarm and your management plan.
Do I need to hang this swarm catcher in a tree?
No. This hive can be placed on a pallet, hive stand, or cement blocks in the location where you want the colony to live.
Does this hive include a bottom board?
Yes. You can choose either a solid bottom board or a screened bottom board.
Does this hive include a queen excluder?
No. This swarm catcher does not include a queen excluder.
Is this hive Double Wax Dipped?
Yes. The major wooden components are Double Wax Dipped for added durability and weather protection.
Are the wooden frames Double Wax Dipped?
No. If you choose wooden frames, the wooden frame pieces are intentionally left untreated because they are protected inside the hive. The foundation receives the Triple Wax coating.
Does this swarm catcher need to be painted?
No. The Double Wax Dipped finish protects the woodenware and eliminates the need for painting before use.
Can this be used for nuc colonies or splits?
Yes. This 5-frame setup is useful for nuc colonies, splits, smaller swarms, backup colonies, and compact colony management.
Can I expand this hive later?
Yes. Compatible 5-frame equipment can be added as the colony grows, or the colony can be moved into larger equipment depending on your beekeeping plan.
Will the wax color fade over time?
Yes, the outside color may naturally lighten from sun and weather exposure. This is cosmetic only; the wax absorbed into the wood continues helping protect the equipment.
