Pete Beart, chairperson of the Eastern Highveld Beekeepers’ Association (EHBA), has again reiterated the impact that changing weather patterns have on bee populations and pollination.
According to him, the unseasonal weather conditions this year have negatively affected bees, leaving them hungry.
Pete spoke to the Boksburg Advertiser at the association’s Bee and Honey Show, held on May 3 and 4 at Heckers Garden Centre, which is aimed at generating more support for locally sourced raw honey and to raise awareness about beekeeping and bee-related products.
“This has been a very bad year for bees. The weather is causing seasonal flowers to bloom later and not as abundantly. We’re expecting the bees to be quite desperate this winter,” said Pete, adding they have received a number of calls regarding bee removal, including a bakery.
“The bees smell the sugar and go in looking for food. It’s something people need to be aware of. They’re not being more aggressive or defensive; they’re just hungry and looking for food.”
His advice for people wanting to feed bees is to use a mixture of two parts sugar to one part water, as this more closely resembles the consistency of honey.
“It’s best to mix two parts sugar to one part water, and place it in a saucer or something similar. We also have special feeders for this purpose.”
Beekeeping tips
Pete advised people interested in keeping bees to properly educate themselves.
“It is worth noting that that the African bee is very different. YouTube videos often show European bees, but the African bee is much more defensive. Because of this, it needs to be handled correctly.
“I advise potential beekeepers to attend a course and get in touch with their local beekeeping association. That way, you’ll be better informed, which is beneficial for everyone’s safety.”
“The bottom line is, if you leave bees alone they’ll leave you alone.
“Some people can’t always afford bee removal, so they opt to kill them, which is dangerous because African bees are very defensive. They’re called ‘killer bees’ in the rest of the world, so you have to treat them with respect.
“We strongly advise against taking matters into your own hands when it comes to bee removal.
“Even when you’re looking for bee removal, make sure you get references so you know the job will be done properly.”
To find out more about the Eastern Highveld Beekeepers’ Association contact Pete on 063 689 3700.
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