Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! Usually, we’re talking about massive hive removals from roofs or chimneys, but today we encountered the exact opposite. We were called out to a garden in Gauteng to check on a sprinkler control box.

To be honest, it took us longer to unpack the gear and get into our suits than it did to actually finish the removal. This might just be the smallest colony we have ever rescued!

The Inspection: Signs of Life

The homeowners mentioned they hadn’t seen much activity lately, and looking at the box, we weren’t even sure if the bees were still there. But after one little scout bee started buzzing around my head and I caught a glimpse of movement through the entry hole, we knew we had a job to do.

Based on the size of the box and the lack of traffic, we guessed it was a very recently landed swarm.

The Reveal: A Tiny Powerhouse

When we opened the sprinkler box, we found a colony about the size of a tennis ball.

• The Resources: There was just a tiny bit of comb and a small amount of food stored on either side of the main piece.
• The Queen: Because the colony was so small, finding the Queen was incredibly easy! She was walking along the side of the box, looking majestic with that unmistakably large abdomen.

Can They Survive?

A colony this small is always a bit of a gamble. In the wild, a “tennis ball” swarm has a tough road ahead. However, we saw two very promising signs:

1. Fresh Eggs: Despite their size, the Queen had already started laying.
2. The Fanning Signal: As we moved them into their new transport box, we saw the workers “fanning”—sticking their abdomens in the air and beating their wings to release pheromones. They were essentially calling out to any stragglers, saying, “Hey! The home is over here!”

The Plan: Giving Them a Fighting Chance

We’ve relocated this tiny family to a formal apiary where they can get the attention they need. We made sure to bring over what little resources they had in the sprinkler box to give them a head start.

Some might say a colony this small isn’t worth the effort, but we believe every colony is viable if given the right environment. If they were brave enough to try and build a life in a sprinkler box, we’re going to do everything we can to help them grow into a thriving hive.

Want to see if this tiny colony makes it to the big leagues?

Make sure to Subscribe to the Bee Sanctuary! We’ll be keeping a close eye on these “underdogs” and sharing their progress.

Quick Question: Do you think size matters when it comes to a colony’s survival, or is it all about the Queen? Let’s hear your theories in the comments!