Bee Swarmed with Mateo Kaiser (381)
Mateo Kaiser joins Jeff and Becky to discuss how Bee Swarmed is changing the way beekeepers find and collect swarms. Built to connect the public with local beekeepers quickly, the platform helps remove the chaos that often surrounds swarm calls and replaces it with real-time alerts, cleaner communication, and better outcomes for both bees and beekeepers.
The conversation begins with a timely Hive IQ question about swarm prevention and colony expansion. Jeff and Becky talk through the challenge of managing strong spring colonies, when to divide, and why waiting too long can cost both bees and honey production. That leads naturally into Mateo’s work and the growing role Bee Swarmed plays in modern swarm management.
Mateo explains how the system works, how beekeepers receive and claim swarm alerts, and how image recognition is helping filter out wasps and other mistaken reports. He also shares how Bee Swarmed has expanded beyond simple notifications into public education, library outreach, and large-scale data collection.
Looking ahead, Mateo describes new tools under development, including local swarm timing predictions and swarm trap placement guidance based on environmental and historical data. For beekeepers hoping to catch locally adapted bees, reduce missed opportunities, and better understand swarm patterns, this episode offers a practical look at where beekeeping and technology now meet.
Websites from the episode and others we recommend:
- Bee Swarmed: https://beeswarmed.org
- Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
- Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org
- The National Honey Board: https://honey.com
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
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Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
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Gwen Mosley:
Hi, my name is Gwen Mosley, and I'm here at the North American Honey Bee Expo in 2026.
I'm from Luray, Ohio. Welcome to Beekeeping Today.
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Jeff Ott:
Welcome to Beekeeping Today Podcast, presented by Betterbee,
your source for beekeeping news, information, and entertainment. I'm Jeff Ott.
00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:14.500
Becky Masterman:
And I'm Becky Masterman.
00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:35.000
Jeff Ott:
Quick shout-out to Betterbee and all of our sponsors whose support allows us to bring you this podcast each week without a subscription.
Be sure to check out all of our content at BeekeepingToday.com.
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Becky Masterman:
That sounds like one of our young beekeepers. How fantastic is that?
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Jeff Ott:
It's so much fun to see young beekeepers getting excited, coming with their parents or grandparents.
That enthusiasm is infectious.
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Becky Masterman:
I wish I had started that young. The future of beekeeping is in good hands.
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Jeff Ott:
I used to take my daughter to the bee yard when she was little.
One day she got stung at daycare because she tried to show her friends how nice bees were.
She picked one up—and it stung her.
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Becky Masterman:
Is she still a beekeeper?
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Jeff Ott:
No, but she still likes bees. Just can't keep them where she lives.
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Becky Masterman:
It's a great time of year—things are picking up again.
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Jeff Ott:
For today's Hive IQ question, we hear from Michael Fredieu in Vermont.
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Michael Fredieu:
When a colony has seven to nine frames of brood, how do you decide between splitting,
manipulating the brood nest, or adding supers to prevent swarming?
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Jeff Ott:
That's the question beekeepers have always asked—how do you prevent swarming?
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Becky Masterman:
If you don’t intervene, the bees will do it for you.
At eight to nine frames of brood, I would divide the colony.
Otherwise, you risk losing honey production.
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Jeff Ott:
Search-and-destroy of queen cells isn’t reliable.
Miss one, and they’ll still swarm.
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Becky Masterman:
Being proactive is key—stay ahead of congestion rather than reacting to it.
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Jeff Ott:
That leads us to today’s guest, Mateo Kaiser of Bee Swarmed.
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Mateo Kaiser:
Bee Swarmed connects swarm reports from the public to beekeepers quickly.
Most beekeepers rely on word of mouth and often miss opportunities.
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Jeff Ott:
How are beekeepers notified?
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Mateo Kaiser:
Through email, text message, or WhatsApp.
The first beekeeper to claim the swarm gets it.
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Jeff Ott:
So it’s first come, first served?
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Mateo Kaiser:
Exactly. It reduces confusion for both beekeepers and the public.
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Becky Masterman:
You’ve also worked to filter out wasps.
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Mateo Kaiser:
Yes, we trained an image recognition model that’s about 97% accurate.
It helps reduce false reports and improves beekeeper experience.
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Jeff Ott:
You’ve also expanded into outreach.
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Mateo Kaiser:
We’ve worked with libraries, farmers markets, and even 911 dispatchers
to connect people with beekeepers.
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Becky Masterman:
That library outreach is impressive.
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Mateo Kaiser:
Beekeepers are eager to participate—it’s been a great community tool.
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Jeff Ott:
What’s next for Bee Swarmed?
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Mateo Kaiser:
We’re building tools to predict swarm timing and optimize trap placement
using environmental and historical data.
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Becky Masterman:
Helping beekeepers anticipate rather than react.
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Jeff Ott:
Exactly.
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Jeff Ott:
That wraps up this episode of Beekeeping Today.
Thanks for listening.
Managing Director, Swarmed
Mateo Kaiser is a 5th-generation beekeeper, Master Beekeeper, and the Managing Director of Swarmed. Swarmed sends swarm alerts to over 10k beekeepers across North America and Australia, connecting them with the public to safely relocate wild swarms, while building one of the world's largest community-sourced pollinator datasets.