Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! Today’s mission took us to Bryanston, Johannesburg, for a tricky extraction from a hollow boundary wall. These cavities are popular spots for swarms because they are high up and well-insulated, but getting into them requires a bit more than just a hive tool.

The Plan: Electric Chisels and Ladders

Working on a boundary wall means we’re almost always on a ladder, which—to be honest—is my least favourite part of the job!

• Precision Entry: We used an electric chisel to carefully break open the concrete cavity. The goal is to position the opening right next to the nest so we can work on the comb without crushing the bees inside.
• Stability: Safety first—Ethan had to hold the ladder while I worked the chisel. It’s hard work being up there for hours, but it’s the only way to reach these high-altitude hives.

The Extraction: Dirty Comb and Old Foundations

Once we opened the wall, we found a well-established colony.

• The Dust Factor: Because it was a construction cavity, the outer pieces of comb were quite dirty from sand and dust. We decided to scrap the dirtiest bits and focus on the clean, resource-heavy sections.
• Tough Old Comb: The comb in this wall was quite old, which is actually a blessing during a removal. Older comb is stiffer and “leathery,” making it much easier to handle and mount into frames than soft, brand-new wax.
• The “Scrap” Strategy: We found several broken-up pieces of comb at the bottom of the cavity. We combined these smaller “scraps” into single frames to ensure no brood was wasted.

The Signal: Fanning for the Queen

After a long stint on the ladder vacuuming and cutting, we looked down at the bee vac for the ultimate sign of success.

• Bums in the Air: The ladies at the entrance of the vacuum box were “fanning” perfectly—abdomens up, wings beating to spread the Queen’s scent.
• The Verdict: Seeing that fanning behavior almost guarantees we got the Queen inside the box! Even without spotting her in the dark cavity, the bees’ behavior tells us the mission was a success.

Mission Accomplished

From a concrete wall in Bryanston to a professional hive box! We successfully transferred the bees and their rescued comb to our apiary, giving them a much cleaner, more sustainable home than a dusty wall cavity.

Want to see how this “Bryanston Wall” colony settles into the apiary?

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Quick Question: If you had bees in your boundary wall, would you try to patch the hole yourself or call in the pros? Let’s talk about “bee-proofing” in the comments!