Page 21 - Fourways Gardens September 2020

Estate News

Natasha is a SABIO and Southerns
Beekeeping Association Member. She
is also a Training Steward with the SA
Honey Judge Guild and a registered
DAFF member. She is passionate
about honey bee education and does
honey bee talks and private honey
tastings - email natasha@lyonfamily.
co.za, if you would like to arrange a
honey bee talk or honey tasting.

For further information regarding
honey bee removals, please email
Southerns Beekeeping Association
info@southerns.co.za or visit SABIO
(www.sabio.org.za).

You can also visit The Medicine
Garden (www.medicinegarden.co.za)
for companion planting to manage
garden pests and see seasonal lists of
their property. If the bees occupy boxes NOTE: Ideally, in urban locations, bees what to plant for bees.
or man holes outside the boundary walls, should be relocated at night. It can be The CANDIDE garden App is also a
it is up to the council to organise and VERY dangerous to do bee removals wonderful resource.
fund the bee removal. Often the fibre during the day. However, sometimes the
companies, Rand Water, Eskom etc have size of the colony and location of a bee
contracts in place with accredited service removal requires a day time removal.
providers. In addition to safety considerations,
one third of the colony is out foraging
Unfortunately, some unscrupulous bee for nectar and pollen during the day.
removal ‘experts’ do NOT re-hive the Removing the colony during the day will
swarm when it is possible to do so. These result in the foraging bees returning,
individuals do not take care of the brood only to find the queen and the rest of the
(baby bees). They chuck the comb with the colony have disappeared. Without the
brood into plastic drums which they discard protection of the super organism they
before moving on to the next bee removal. will die off.
The brood needs to be kept at a constant
temperature of around 36°C in order to Finally, here are some important
survive. Ideally, the bees should be re-hived questions to ask your bee removal service
into a catch box or larger brood box as soon provider:
as possible. Failing to do so will result in the • Are you a registered beekeeper?
demise of the colony. • Can you include your DAFF registration
number on the invoice?
Here are some guidelines to follow if • Is it safe to do the removal during the
honey bees ‘move in’: day?
• Always keep a safe distance from a • Where will the bees be relocated to?
colony or swarming bees. • Are you a member of your local Bee
• Never attempt to smoke, poison, spray Association and/or SABIO?
or remove bees. Honey bees are very • Will the bees be re-hived on site or after
defensive and an attack can be fatal. the bee removal?
• If clusters of swarming bees can be • Could you please provide an update on
seen hanging from a branch or tree, it is how the bees have settled in at their
advisable to let them be for a day or two new location?
as the bees will often move on. Again,
never try to spray, smoke or ‘catch’ the Did you know? It takes 12 honey bees all
swarm. their life’s work to produce ONE teaspoon A swarming cluster huddle together on a tree
• If bees occupy a space for 2 or more of honey. Know where your honey comes branch. In the middle of the cluster you can spot
the blurry image of a scout bee doing a ‘waggle
weeks, seek the services of a professional from and be prepared to pay fair prices dance’ on the back of her sisters to communicate
bee removal service. for real, honest honey. the location of a new home or food source.

Fourways Gardens • 19 • September 2020