Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! Today we’re in Pretoria for a job that feels a bit like deja vu. We just posted a video of an electrical box removal earlier this week, and here we are again, facing another colony that has set up shop in a brick cavity right under a utility box.

Brick wall removals are notoriously challenging, but on this one, we absolutely crushed it. Here is how we managed a high-stakes rescue in a densely populated neighborhood.

The Danger: Why Pretoria Removals are High-Stakes

Working in a suburban area like this adds a layer of intensity. We aren’t just dealing with any bees; we’re working with the African honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata).

• The World’s Most Dangerous Bee: While their venom isn’t more potent than other species, their behavior is. They are famous for being defensive, attacking without provocation, and chasing perceived threats for long distances.
• Public Safety: Because this was a densely populated area, one wrong move could put neighbors and their pets at serious risk.

The Strategy: Night Moves & Planning

To keep the “drama” to a minimum, we rely on two main tactics: night work and anticipation.

1. The Night Shift: Working in the dark is our best defense. It prevents the bees from orchestrating a massive, flying attack. Instead, they stay congregated on the nest, which allows us to work safely while the homeowners watch from a distance in the dark.
2. Visualizing the Nest: Before we even move a brick, we imagine how that nest is draped inside the cavity. Anticipating the layout makes the extraction faster and significantly reduces the risk of damaging the brood.

The Extraction: Brittle Comb & High-Speed Transfers

Once we opened the cavity, we found some beautiful—but very dry—brood.

• The “Terrible” Comb: The wax was incredibly brittle and dry, making it a nightmare to handle without it snapping.
• The Custom Bee Vac: Since the bees were clustered at night, we used our custom-built vacuum to safely pull them into the transport box.
• Rapid Brood Care: We’ve been experimenting with a new technique: placing the salvaged brood frames directly into the vacuum box immediately after the workers are inside. The goal is to get the bees back onto the comb as fast as possible so they can regulate the temperature of the “nursery.”

The Verdict: Precision and Speed

By planning ahead and using the right PPE, we cleared the cavity and secured the colony without a single “incident.” The Queen was nesting nicely, and we managed to save a significant amount of healthy brood to jumpstart their new life at the apiary.

Want to see a removal that was even MORE dramatic?

I recently collaborated with another expert beekeeper on a massive nest that was truly a sight to behold. Check out that collaboration video here and don’t forget to Subscribe to follow our Pretoria adventures!