What is the recommended action when splitting a colony?

Moving the queen to the new colony with food and comb is considered the best practice when splitting a colony. This approach ensures that the new colony has a strong starting point with both a laying queen and the necessary resources for the bees to thrive. By placing the queen in the new location, you facilitate the establishment of a new hive that can quickly build up and maintain its population, as the queen is crucial for egg-laying and colony cohesion.

This process also helps to prevent issues related to bees becoming queenless, which can lead to more aggressive behavior and a decrease in worker bee productivity. Furthermore, by providing food and comb, you support the new colony in terms of nutrition and shelter, making it less likely that the bees will struggle during their transition to a new home.

Overall, ensuring the new colony has the queen, alongside adequate resources, sets the foundation for a successful colony split.