Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! Today’s maintenance session is a special one. We are continuing our multi-season track of a specific hive to see how the African honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) adapts to the volatile South African climate.

This season has been a rollercoaster. We started with a massive drought, followed by excessive post-Christmas rains that washed away the nectar, resulting in lower-than-average honey production. To top it off, we’ve been battling Banded Bee Pirates, predatory wasps that hold our bees “captive” at the entrance, preventing them from foraging and threatening hive collapse.

Spring Expansion: Building the “Baby” Factory

Despite the weather, this colony’s Queen is a powerhouse.

• The Brood Explosion: In late autumn, this hive only had two frames of brood. Now, in early spring, we’ve expanded to seven frames of full “babies.” Every cell we checked was packed with healthy larvae and capped brood.
• The Reorganisation: To prevent swarming (which happens when the Queen runs out of space), we moved the brood to the center of the box. We “checkerboarded” the nest by placing empty foundation sheets on either side of the brood. This forces the bees to draw out new wax and gives the Queen an immediate “runway” to keep laying.
• The Super Strategy: Because the colony is so strong, we added a honey super. Our goal is to have the bees move their honey stores up into the super, clearing the bottom box entirely for the Queen’s nursery.

Summer Struggles: Bee Pirates and Honey Harvest

Moving into the height of summer, the dynamics shifted.

• Hostage Situation: We noticed a significant drop in foraging. Bee Pirates were hovering at the entrance, and the bees were huddled inside, “squeaking” in distress. To combat this, we’ve deployed mirror traps (mirrors in soapy water) to lure and drown the wasps.
• The Harvest: Even with the “pirate” problem, the bees managed to cap some beautiful honey in the supers. We harvested several full frames of “Liquid Gold.”
• The Shake-Off: To keep the process clean, we shake the bees off the frames right at the hive entrance. This ensures we aren’t transporting thousands of “hitchhikers” back home and keeps the workforce exactly where it’s needed: at the hive.

Technical Overview: The 10-Frame Langstroth Model

To help you visualize the hive’s progress, we use a standard 10-frame diagram:

• Green: Brood (The future generation)
• Honey Color: Capped stores (The fuel)
• White: Empty space (The room for growth)

By comparing our “Pre-Spring” (high brood, low honey) to our “Summer” (moderate brood, high honey) maps, you can see exactly how a well-managed hive balances its resources.

The Verdict: Resilience in the Highveld

This colony has survived drought, floods, and predators. By rotating out old comb and consistently providing space, we’ve kept them from swarming and helped them stay productive. As we head toward the next season, the focus will be on ensuring they have enough stores to withstand the winter.

Want to see the full diagram of this hive’s two-year journey?

Check out our Hive Tracking Playlist for the complete visual history. Don’t forget to Subscribe and hit the Like button to support our mission!