It’s not all sunshine and honey on the road to 300. Today at the Bee Sanctuary, we faced one of the tougher realities of beekeeping: absconding.

We headed out to check on Hive #10, a colony we originally rescued two stories up in Craigavon. My friend Johann, who keeps an eye on the apiary for me, noticed some worrying signs at the entrance. I had a gut feeling before even popping the lid—either they were gone, or they were dead.

The Autopsy: What Went Wrong?

As soon as we opened the box, the evidence was clear. This wasn’t a dead hive; it was an abandoned one.

• Wax Moth Invasion: The frames were already being overtaken by wax moth larvae. These pests don’t usually kill a strong hive, but they move in fast once a colony weakens or leaves.
• The Robbers: We saw bees inside the box, but they weren’t the residents. They were robber bees from nearby colonies, opportunistic and stripping every last drop of nectar left behind.
• No “Crime Scene”: The tell-tale sign that they absconded rather than died is the lack of dead bees. If a hive collapses from disease or cold, you find a carpet of bees at the bottom. Here? Nothing. The queen simply decided this “apartment” wasn’t up to scratch and moved the whole family out.

Silver Linings & Bird Food

It’s a pity because this was a beautiful swarm, but we don’t let the resources go to waste.

• Nature’s Cleanup: I’m taking these frames home and putting them out for the local birds. They absolutely love the wax moth larvae—it’s a high-protein treat for them!
• The Rebuild: We’ll clean and scorch this box to kill any remaining moth eggs and get it ready for our next rescue.

In beekeeping, you win some and you lose some. Losing Hive #10 just means we have an empty spot to fill with the next swarm that needs a home in Johannesburg.

Want to see how we clean a moth-infested hive?

I’ll be posting a maintenance hack video soon on how to salvage frames and boxes after a loss like this. Make sure to Subscribe to the Channel so you don’t miss it.

Quick Poll: What do you think is the #1 reason a healthy-looking swarm absconds? Is it the hive location, pests, or just bad luck? Let’s hear your theories in the comments!

How should we proceed? Would you like a tutorial on preventing wax moths, or should we get back to a new rescue mission to fill this empty box?