Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! While the sky over Johannesburg was exploding with fireworks for Diwali 2025, we were in a glass garden shed in Ken facing an explosion of a different kind.

Usually, the African honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata) in these sheds hide under the floorboards, but this colony decided to set up shop in a corner right behind a pile of camping gear.

The Camping Gear Obstacle Course

Working in a glass shed at night is a tactical challenge. We work after dark because scutellata can be incredibly defensive; doing this during the day would risk every person and pet in the neighborhood.

• The Danger of Shifting Gears: Moving stored items is often the most dangerous part of the job. If a camping bag shifts and crushes the bees or their nest, it triggers alarm pheromones, leading to a mass defensive response.
• Checking Escape Routes: Before we even started the vacuum, we had to check for gaps in the roof and panels. If the bees run into the wall cavities when we start, our job becomes ten times harder.

The Beauty of “Brittle” White Comb

As we cleared the gear, we revealed a stunning nest of brand-new, snow-white comb. It was a masterpiece, but a fragile one.

• Fresh and Brittle: New comb is incredibly brittle. One slip and the entire hive structure can collapse. I had to move with surgical precision to cut the sections away without destroying the nursery.
• The Heat of the Hive: Even though it was a cold night, the heat coming off the comb was amazing. Bees keep their brood at around 38°C. This warmth keeps the honey liquid; if the temperature drops, real honey will crystallize. That’s how you know store-bought honey that stays liquid forever isn’t the real deal!

A “Road Snack” and a Missing Queen

As we worked, we found some beautiful capped honey—the perfect “road snack” for a beekeeper! We also spotted a queen cell, which tells us this colony was already planning for the future.

• Sizing Up: We initially thought this was a small colony, but as we pulled out four large frames of brood, we started debating whether a six-frame catch box would be enough or if we needed to upgrade to a full 10-frame hive.
• The Hidden Queen: We didn’t spot her majesty in the brittle comb, but we read the “language” of the bees. They were clumping and moving with purpose towards safe areas, which is a classic sign that the queen is nearby. We focused on vacuuming the clumps, hoping she’d land safely in the BeeVac.

The Verdict: Safe from the Fireworks

Despite the distractions of the fireworks and the tight workspace, we managed to secure four frames of brood and a massive amount of bees. The shed is now safe for the homeowners to grab their camping gear, and the bees have a warm, dry hive to call their own.

Does your honey crystallize in the cupboard? That’s actually a sign of quality! Let us know your honey stories in the comments. Don’t forget to Subscribe and hit the Like button to support our mission this festive season.