Trapping Bees on Shabbos

MISHNA: This fundamental mishna enumerates those who perform the primary categories of labor prohibited on Shabbat, which number forty-less-one... One who traps a deer... All these are primary categories of labor, and they number forty-less-one.

The melacha of tzad was used in the Mishkan when they would use the skin from the trapped animal to make the curtains in the Mishkan.

MISHNA: Rabbi Yehuda says: One who traps a bird into a closet or cage, and one who traps a deer into a house is liable. The Rabbis say: One is liable for trapping a bird into a closet and for trapping a deer into a garden, or into a courtyard, or into an enclosure [bivar], he is liable. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: Not all enclosures are identical. This is the principle: If the trapping of the animal is inadequate and it is still necessary to pursue and apprehend it, one is not liable. However, if one trapped a deer into an enclosure in which the trapping is not inadequate, he is liable.

A person violates the melacha of tzad on a biblical level by trapping an animal (examples given are deer, birds and fish) and placing them in something where they are easily captured. However, if you trap the animal in a smaller area (ex. closing the door when a deer runs into the house) you are not chayav on a biblical level since you still have work to do in order to trap the animal.

The Sages taught in a baraita: One who traps locusts, cicadas, hornets, or mosquitoes on Shabbat is liable. This is the statement of Rabbi Meir. And the Rabbis say: Not every insect is the same in this matter. If one traps any insect whose species is typically trapped for personal use, he is liable, and if one traps any insect whose species is typically not trapped for personal use, he is exempt. It was taught in another baraita: One who traps locusts when there is dew is exempt. Since it is cold at that time, the locusts are paralyzed. If one traps them when it is hot, he is liable. Elazar ben Mehavai says: If the locusts were swarming, one is exempt for trapping them, because no effort is necessary to apprehend them. A dilemma was raised before them: Does the statement of Elazar ben Mehavai apply to the first clause of the baraita, ruling stringently that one is liable for trapping locusts even when there is dew unless they are swarming; or does it apply to the latter clause of the baraita, ruling leniently that one is exempt when trapping locusts, even in the heat when they are swarming? Come and hear a resolution to this dilemma based on a source that addresses the point explicitly: One who traps locusts when there is dew is exempt; one who traps locusts when it is hot is liable. Elazar ben Mehavai says: Even when it is hot, if they were swarming, one is exempt.

All animals that are normally trapped, one violates a biblical prohibition when trapping them, while animals that are not normally trapped are forbidden to trap on a rabbinic level. Therefore, even though flies are not normally trapped, they are still forbidden to trap. Ramah: A person should be careful not to close a small chest when a fly is in there since it is guaranteed that they are going to be trapped when you close the chest.

If the fly is trapped in a large box it seems it would be permissible according to everyone, since a person would still not be able to trap it easily, and flies are animals that are not typically trapped.

It seems form the Beis Yosef that bees are considered insects that are normally trapped, but some poskim including the GR"A disagree and hold that they are insects that are not typically trapped.

IF one traps snakes, scorpions or other dangerous creatures on Shabbos; if they are trapped for rifuah, one is chayav, but if they are trapped so one doesn't get bitten or stung that is permitted.

Because of the pain of a sting, the chachamim were lenient and didn't decree a prohibition to trap such an animal or insect.