Bee removal in Johannesburg is available throughout the year and as spring approaches in all it's glory the opportunities for a colony to make itself at home in your garden are certainly on the increase.
The weather starts to get warmer from early August and Spring isn't far behind. What begins to happen now is that the number of flowering plants is suddenly on the increase, filling the air with their scent, and to the bees it is a promise of food with which to replenish what they ate through the cold months of winter.
It is also during this time that a new queen may be born causing the colony to split, with the old queen leaving taking along half of her subjects. If the hive is situated in somebody's garden the chances that the bees may just move a house or two away are quite high, but who knows if they will be as welcome as they were where they came from.
In response to the rapidly dwindling bee population many folk tried to do their bit by taking up bee keeping. While the intentions were noble it does seem to have had a few negative repercussions. Chiefly due to lack of experience, and not realising that bee-keeping is not just a question of putting bees in a box and letting them get on with it. It requires time and dedication. it also means that you have to ensure their needs are met or they will up and leave.
Luckily bee removal experts like ourselves are on hand to remove the bees if they arrive uninvited and we can also take the hive away if you decide that the whole thing simply isn't for you.
We take our bees out of the city to farms and small holdings where they are more suited and where the people on the farm are equipped to deal with bees.
Bees are removed through out the day. While it is true that bees are generally confined to their hives between sunset and dawn they can still successfully be relocated as they return to the hive periodically while foraging in the vicinity. A little bit of patience should see the majority of the bees safely relocated.
Depending on where the bees have situated themselves, removal methods can
vary from cutting a branch and dropping all into a box to more complex
opening of cavities into which the bees may have crept.
Bee removal experts always wear protective gear and have the correct equipment when removing a colony of bees in order to prevent sudden swarming of the bees being removed or injury to themselves.
In our attempts to do every bee removal as humanely as possible and instead of destroying the bees, relocate them. This box is placed near the hive and through various methods we entice the bees into it, or if they are easily accessible we will scoop them in, collecting as many bees as possible and transport them to their new home, where they will be rehived.
Beekepers are often affiliated to organisations which will ensure that guidelines regarding removal methods and humane treatment of bees are adhered to. Once such institution is BRASA, the bee removal association of South Africa, which provides information regarding bee removals and bee removal teams as well as preferred ethics and conduct of bee removers.
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Each bee removal job is different because the bees will have built different sized hives on different locations. No two jobs are the same. Feel free to discuss your needs with us .
We are not only bee removers, but are also bee-keeprs which puts us in a position where we understand bees and how they can sometimes react aggressively, this is why we always have a "Safety First" mindset when we are dealing with bees. Our public liability insurance has increased to R2 million because we are cognisant of the volatile nature of these insects.
Registering with the Department of Agriculture is further testament to our commitment to bees, their well being and that of our clients.
Here are some questions and answers that relate to unwanted bees and removing them
The Association of Veterinary and Crop Associations of South Africa hosted a workshop early in 2011 with the aim of agreeing on environmentally sound means to manage the bee population which in certain instances are perceived as problematic.
A number of issues were addressed amongst which were the identification of bee colonies which might be problematic at present or in the near future and which colonies would not pose any threat and are best left alone. Further to that it was discussed which means of addressing the said colonies would be the most effective while being the least disruptive or harmful.
In each case certain criteria should be looked at:
1.Are the bees situated on residential, public, agricultural or industrial
grounds
2.What is the degree of threat posed to humans and animals
3.Is the colony accessible
4.Is removal/eradication really necessary
As a yardstick these are criteria which can be looked at by both the
bee remover and the landlord that called him out for a removal. An amicable
solution can be reached for all concerned including the bees.
A contentious topic to say the least. It seems the idea of a killer bee stems from someones imagination who took the time to create a B-Grade movie about it (no puns here, please) as far back as this one pictured below from 1967.
Truth
be told, what we in South Africa refer to as honey bees (Apis mellifera
scutellata) are what we see everyday and are a sub species of the Western
honey bee. It seems however that these Africanised bees are spreading
through America. The colonies that find themselves in the wild are inclined
to swarm between 8 and 12 times a year. Each time this happens a new queen
is introduced and along with her, new genes. These genes are rumored to
be the cause of aggression in bees and hence the Africanised honey bee
has earned itself the name “ Killer bee”.
There are cries of “nonsense” and on the other end “People have been attacked!” But little is said of the circumstances surrounding the attack and what provoked it. Even the more docile European honey bee can be provoked into swarming and attacking, it boils down to a matter of circumstance.
Beekeepers are concerned that this kind of reputation will hamper the growth of the bee industry through by-laws requiring beekeepers to do away with Africanised honeybees or in certain instances all bees especially in a domestic/suburban environment.
Research has shown that different bees have different levels of tolerance and variable causes of aggression. These are largely due to species and location.
It is clear that bees seldom attack if unprovoked, so follow the basic response to the presence of bees. and leave them alone.
Removing of honey and honeycomb from hives will certainly get the bees upset, it is best done by a trained person wearing the correct protective gear.
Bumping into or smashing something against the hive, like a ball, will have you face to face with an angry swarm of bees.
Lack of nectar, for whatever reason causes bees to rob other hives this triggers and aggressive reaction.
High heat and humidity can cause bees to act aggressively.
Lawn mowers and any type grass or plant cutting in the vicinity of the hive.