Page 20 - Fourways Gardens September 2020

Estate News

SPRING MARKS THE START OF

THE HONEY BEE SWARMING SEASON

B Y NA T A SHA L Y ON

warming occurs when a large even further. The scout bees set off in eggs and therefore a colony can rapidly
group of honey bees leaves an search of a new home. How amazing is outgrow its occupied space which may
established colony and fly off to this? They instinctively know the size prompt swarming. It could also be that
Sform another colony, essentially required for the new colony. During the queen who lives between 4 and 7
creating two colonies from one. In doing ‘inspection’ of a potential site, they fly years, is aging and therefore lays less
so they ‘give birth’ to a new colony. around gathering information about their eggs. The worker bees respond by raising
surroundings, including potential water a new queen. It is never a good idea to
Fourways Gardens is the oldest secure and food sources. On their return, the have two queens in one household
residential estate in South Africa and scout bees perform an intricate ‘waggle (nudge-nudge, wink-wink!). And so, the
home to a variety of wildlife. We share dance’ which communicates the location old queen prepares to swarm off with
our estate with birds, monitor lizards, of their new home with surprising some of the worker bees to establish a
hedgehogs, butterflies and honey bees, to accuracy. new colony. They even pack ‘lunch’ by
mention but a few. With such diverse and filling their separate honey tummies with
established gardens, there is especially an If you are lucky enough to witness honey honey to sustain them on their journey.
abundance of food available to our honey bees swarm this season, you will notice
bees. As a result, our estate boasts a very it is both fascinating and scary to see WHEN HONEY BEES MOVE IN…
healthy honey bee population which thousands of bees flying by in a buzzing In Celtic mythology, the honey bee is a
we should treasure and protect without cloud. One can often hear them before messenger between our world and the
compromising safety. spotting the swarm. As with any wild spirit realm. It is often associated with
animal, it is important to keep a safe wisdom. In ancient Egypt, it was believed
Sadly, honey bees are in sharp decline distance from a swarming colony and that the sun god Ra created the honey
throughout the world. We can support certainly one should never approach an bee from his tears and that messages
our honey bees by planting for bees, established honey bee nest. However, were delivered to earth by honey bees
saying NO to harmful pesticides, and only during swarming, the honey bees are ‘dripping’ straight from the face of Ra.
prune trees and shrubs after flowering. at their most vulnerable without the
Through honey bee education and protection of an established home. En Honey bees will naturally occupy roof
understanding how and why bees swarm, route to their new home, they will often cavities, meter and pool motor boxes,
our community can play an important do ‘pit stops’ by settling on nearby tree drums, waste bins, bird logs, hollow
role in their protection. With the world’s branches or objects for a few hours or tree trunks and any space in which they
growing population, we simply cannot sometimes days. The queen requires feel at home and protected from the
sustain our food resources without the frequent stops as she is not well suited for elements. Every colony’s choice is unique.
crucial work of pollinators, of which long distance flights. Removing an established colony of honey
honey bees are the most important. bees takes skill and experience.
THE SWARMING INSTINCT
FINDING A NEW HOME There are many factors which trigger It is important to note, that by law, home
These little creatures can fly up to a 5km the swarming instinct. As temperatures owners are entitled to arrange (and
radius from their colony in search of begin to warm up, the inflow of nectar should fund) the removal of a colony
pollen, nectar or a new home. Sometimes and pollen triggers the queen to lay more which is located within the perimeter of

Fourways Gardens • 18 • September 2020