Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! We’ve returned to the old farmhouse for yet another rescue. You might remember our previous mission involving their pool pump cover—well, it seems this property is a true magnet for local swarms.

This time, the bees bypassed the pool and moved straight into a high-stakes location: the main electricity box.

The Setup: Rust and Resources

The property had a few natural “hotels” for bees, including an old barbet’s nest in a tree that had recently fallen apart. It’s likely the colony that lived there went looking for a new, sturdier cavity and found the electricity box.

The Entry Point: The top corner of the metal box had rusted away, leaving a perfect gap for the bees. When we did our initial inspection, the colony seemed remarkably calm—they didn’t even fly out when we opened the door.

The Extraction: Precision in the Wires

Working inside an electrical box requires a steady hand and a sharp eye.

• The Safety Check: We made sure the main switches were down and checked for any exposed or frayed wires before reaching in.
• The Comb Build: Despite the tight space, they had built some thick, resource-heavy comb. One side was packed with honey, while the other was full of beautiful, healthy brood.
• The “Queen Scurry”: As we began removing the comb, we noticed the workers “fanning” toward the back of the box. This is a classic move—the Queen almost always retreats to the darkest, deepest corner when the hive is disturbed.

The Relocation: Kyalami Bound

It took us about an hour to clear the box, which is a great time for a colony of this size. We successfully secured enough brood and bees to fill a significant portion of a hive.

The Strategy:

• The 10-Frame Gamble: While this colony could have fit into a 6-frame “nuc” box, we decided to put them straight into a full 10-frame hive.
• The Risk: There is always a chance a colony will abscond (leave) if the new box feels too big or drafty. However, we’ve stopped using “queen excluders” to trap them in, as we prefer the bees to stay because they want to be there.
• The Location: We took them through to our apiary near Kyalami, where our other two hives are already thriving with supers on.

Mission Accomplished

Another day, another successful rescue from a mechanical cavity! Getting these bees out of a rusted electrical box isn’t just about saving the colony—it’s about preventing a major short circuit or a nasty surprise for the next electrician who comes by.

Want to see if this colony decides to stay in their new 10-frame home?

Make sure to Subscribe to the Bee Sanctuary and hit the Like button! Your support keeps us rescuing colonies from the strangest spots in Gauteng.

Quick Question: If you found bees in your electricity box, would you call an electrician first or a beekeeper? Let’s hear your “who you gonna call” stories in the comments!

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That’s another successful story for the blog! Are you ready for the next script, or should we look at creating a “Common Garden Hiding Spots” guide for homeowners?