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Relocation
We here at the Beekeeper do not simply believe in bee removal, but we take a holistic approach to relocate the bees to an area that is most advantageous to both the bees and the surrounding environment.
Usually a nest consists of the Queen, drones and workers. A bee nest/swarm will end up on your premises for various reasons such as nest supersedure, absconding or migration. Swarming generally takes place in early Spring when nectar and pollen become available and brood rearing commences. Bee colonies enlarge making more space a requirement. If they the colony is strong enough new queen cells are created and the old queen departs with the majority of the workers in a swarm.
Swarming is induced by a number of factors:
- Colony size i.e. overcrowding.
- Nest congestion.
- Increased drone production.
- Reduced transmission of Queen substance/pheromone/scent.
It is usually at this stage that bee swarms are on the lookout for a new location to start their nest.
It is important to know that the Queen pheromone is what keeps the colony together and once settled it is impossible to remove the colony without removing the queen and her scent – this is why it is imperative that a beekeeper with experience be used to do the removal, failure to do this will mean that scouting bees will pick up the scent and new bees will move in.
We will always remove bees in the safest, most efficient way – with minimal endangerment to the bees and little to no damage to your property. If the removal is not possible without the destruction of a portion of the property you will be advised accordingly and you can make an informed decision on how to proceed.
Bee removals have a variety of challenges that need to be taken into consideration;
- The age of the nest/hive i.e. how long have the bees been there.
- Where the nest/hive is situated in regards to accessibility.
- What food sources are within the surrounding areas i.e. Aloe plant nectar yields wonderful high quality honey but they tend to make the bees more aggressive.
The above mentioned factors will be taken into account when making an appointment and may have an influence on the equipment needed and the final cost of the removal.
Relocation costs:
| Location | Call out | Removal |
|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | R250 | R550 |
| More than 50km outside Johannesburg | R350 | R550 |
| More than 100km outside Johannesburg | Contact to discuss fees | |
Warranty:
All work done by The Beekeeper is guaranteed for a period of one month. Following a removal there may still be a few scout bees that return to the nest site, however these bees should vacate within a couple of days to a new home – should this not happen you are welcome to contact us to return at no additional charge to you.