Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! We’re out at one of our apiary sites today, racing against the typical Johannesburg weather. It’s been raining quite a bit lately, and with more storms forecast for tomorrow, we needed to get in and check our colonies before the winter chill really sets in.

Today’s mission is all about seasonal maintenance: checking honey stores, assessing brood health, and reorganising the hives to give our African honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata) the best chance of making it through the cold months ahead.

The Inspection: Uncapped Honey and Empty Spaces

We checked three of our main hives today, and the results were a bit of a mixed bag due to a late-blooming season.

• The Honey Situation: In the first hive, we found some capped honey at the top of the frames, but a lot of it was still uncapped and “unready.” Bees won’t cap honey until the moisture content is low enough to prevent fermentation. These guys are clearly still stacking up resources for the autumn.
• The “Trick” with Brood: We found a hive where the brood was a bit scattered. I used a specific beekeeping technique: I took a fresh frame with a new wax sheet and placed it directly between two frames of existing brood.
• Why do this? Bees naturally dislike having a “gap” in their nursery. To fix it, they will quickly move honey up into the super and have the Queen fill that new frame with eggs. It’s a great way to “force” the colony to expand the brood nest and move resources where we want them.

Hive Health: Waxy Guests and Queen Patterns

In our second hive, we saw a lot more activity, which is a great sign.

• Pests in the Hive: We noticed some holes in the old comb, likely caused by Wax Moths or Hive Beetles. It’s common in older frames, but as long as the colony remains strong, they can usually manage these “intruders” themselves.
• A Healthy Transition: As we move from the spring of 2024 toward the autumn of 2025, we’re looking for a solid brood pattern. We found one hive with beautiful eggs and larvae—proof that the Queen is still laying vigorously despite the cooling temperatures.

Technical Tip: The “Twist” Release

When putting a lid back on a hive crawling with bees, you have to be careful not to create a “bee graveyard.”

• The Technique: Instead of just dropping the lid, we place it on sideways so it only touches four points of the box. Then, we slowly twist it into place. This gentle shifting movement gives the bees time to scuttle out of the way so no one gets squashed.

The Mystery Box: 5 Years Untouched

We have one hive at this site that is a complete enigma. It hasn’t been opened in five years (maybe even more!). The propolis has sealed it so tightly that it’s essentially a single solid block.

• The Plan: We’re saving that for a special “deep dive” video. We honestly don’t know what’s inside—it could be a massive honey hoard or a complete architectural maze.

The Verdict: Ready for the Cold

We’ll be back next month to remove the supers for winter. By scaling the colonies down to just their brood boxes, we help them stay warm and conserve energy. We’ve also got two empty spots at this site that we plan to fill with rescued swarms once spring returns.

Want to see us finally crack open that 5-year-old “mystery” hive?

Check out our Apiary Maintenance Playlist for the upcoming reveal. Don’t forget to Subscribe and hit the Like button to follow our journey!