Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary. Today’s episode from the Kyalami Apiary is a bit of a rollercoaster. As we push toward our 3 to 300 goal, we have to face the highlights and the lowlights of beekeeping.

The Lowlights: Losing Hives to Pests

We’ve unfortunately lost two out of our eight hives at this location.

• Hive #17 (The Camera Box Rescue): This swarm from Bryanston has absconded. The autopsy of the hive revealed a mess of Small Hive Beetles and Wax Moth larvae. Because I didn’t set the rescue comb perfectly straight in the frames, the bees built cross-comb, creating hiding spots that the beetles exploited.
• Hive #22 (The Centurion Water Feature): This colony was driven out by an ant infestation. We actually found ants trying to build a nest inside the hive lid! While we use Diatomaceous Earth to manage them, the sheer volume of ants was too much for this small swarm.

The Highlights: Thriving Producers

It’s not all bad news! Some of our rescues are looking like powerhouse production hives:

• Hive #20 (The Bamboo Pot Rescue): This is the star of the show. They have grown significantly and are beautifully prepared for the South African winter. We found frames heavy with nectar and capped honey, plus a fantastic brood pattern with fresh eggs. They are nice and “chilled,” making them a joy to work with.
• The Olivedale Catch Box: Despite a few hive beetles in the corners, the brood pattern here is solid. The queen is laying plenty of larvae, and they have good pollen stores to get through the colder months.

The “In-Between”: Concern for Hive #18

Hive #18 (The Patio Furniture Rescue) is currently a cause for concern. The queen has stopped laying, and the brood is very patchy. This looks exactly like Hive #17 did before they absconded. It’s possible the queen is preparing to take the swarm and leave. We’re going to try stimulative feeding to see if we can convince them to stay.

Lessons Learned

This inspection cycle has highlighted the importance of pest control and frame precision. I’m taking the empty boxes back to be cleaned and scorched, ready for the next rescue.

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Are you dealing with Highveld pests?

I’ll be doing a specialized video on Hive Beetle traps and ant-proofing your stands soon. Make sure to subscribe and hit the like button! Your support helps us learn from these losses and keep growing.

Quick Question: What is your “go-to” method for stopping hive beetles before they take over a weak swarm? Let’s talk strategy in the comments!

How should we proceed? Would you like to see the hive cleaning and restoration process, or are you ready for our next spring swarm rescue?