Gallery Update Video
KNYSNA NEWS & VIDEO - The story of a swarm of bees that unexpectedly invaded a tiny lemon tree outside the Knysna-Plett Herald offices on Tuesday 20 March has come to a happy ending.
Shortly after the panicked call to local bee expert Riaan Bosch - who is of the organisation Bees for Nature - was made, Bosch arrived to save the day for both man and bee.
He evaluated the situation and luckily had his beekeepers suit handy to make quick work of boxing up the swarm.
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Bosch said that it is very difficult to gauge how many bees formed part of the swarm, but he estimated that there were about 20 000 individuals in and around the tree.
He added that this is the time of year residents can expect bees to start swarming as eucalyptus trees have started to blossom which allows swarms to grow radically in size.
“As the hive becomes too small for the bees they will create a new queen. This will force the old queen to leave the hive with 40 to 60% of the colony to start a new one elsewhere,” he said.
After removing the bees, Bosch took the hive to a safe location.
Riaan Bosch from the organisation Bees for Nature points out the swarm of bees.
Watch as journalist Stefan Goosen gets up close and personal to the bees and their saviour.
Watch a video below:
Read a previous article: 'Buzzzzzzzy' day at Knysna-Plett Herald
Video: Stefan Goosen; Editing: Wessel van Heerden
