Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! Tonight we’re 20 feet up on a slippery roof in Dainfern Estate, Gauteng. Removing a swarm from roof tiles over a glass balustrade is high-stakes work, but the real danger lies in the tactical mistakes beekeepers often make.

If you don’t get the strategy right, you risk serious injury or—worse—simply leaving a “vacancy” sign for the next swarm to move right back in. Here are the three biggest mistakes to avoid during a technical roof removal.

Mistake #1: The Dark Comb Trap

Homeowners often think a swarm is brand new because they only just noticed it. However, the comb tells the real story.

• The Discovery: Even if bees arrived “recently,” we often find dark, heavy wax and old propolis under the tiles. This is a clear sign that the cavity has been inhabited before.
• The Trap: Assuming a hive is new means you might not be prepared for the sheer volume of old honey and resources already stored there. Old comb is heavy and holds heat, which can make it more difficult to handle without it collapsing.

Mistake #2: Suction Loss with Long Hoses

It’s tempting to leave the heavy BeeVac on the ground and just run a long extension hose up the ladder, but this is a major tactical error.

• Vanishing Suction: As the hose gets longer, air velocity drops significantly. Instead of safely catching the bees, a weak vacuum just annoys them, causing the colony to scatter into deeper, unreachable crevices.
• Bee Mortality: Professional beekeepers have noted that longer pipes can actually increase bee mortality during the transfer. We haul the entire vacuum system onto the roof to keep the hose short and the intake velocity high, ensuring the African honeybees and their queen remain safe.

Mistake #3: Leaving a “Bee Hotel” Behind

The job isn’t finished just because the bees are gone. An empty roof cavity is a perfectly regulated environment that is highly attractive to new scout bees.

• The Cycle: If you just replace the tiles, the lingering scent of wax and pheromones will act as a beacon for the next swarm.
• Permanent Proofing: To stop the cycle, we pack the entire void with polyester insulation. By removing the open space, we ensure there is no longer a viable “room” for future bees to build a nest. We also wipe down every drop of honey to prevent “robbing” frenzies from nearby colonies.

The Result: A Successful Sanctuary Transfer

Despite the slippery tiles and cramped gaps, we successfully secured the colony. Back at the sanctuary, we even spotted the queen—a slim, healthy leader—settling into her new frames.

Have you ever had a swarm return to the exact same spot on your roof? That usually means one of these steps was missed! Tell us your story in the comments. Don’t forget to Subscribe and hit the Like button to support humane bee conservation in South Africa.