Gauteng Smallholder May 2016 | Page 12

BEEKEEPING Catch box transfers I f you use a catch box to attract and capture swarms to increase your number of active hives, you need to have the next stage of the operation in place, ie hives, An article in our series on beekeeping by Peter Clark of the Eastern Highveld Beekeepers Assoc ready before you deploy the catch box. That's because the small five frame catch box, if it is successful in attracting an itinerant swarm in search of a new home, can fill rather rapidly with bees and if neglected, the bees will swarm off again because of a lack of developing space. Thus, as soon as you notice activity around your catch box (which you should monitor regularly), the swarm needs to be hived ~ quite a simple undertaking. Have prepared a brood chamber with attached floor and five frames, each fitted with a 20mm strip of foundation wax set in the groove of the top bars of the frames. Gently smoke the entrance of the catch box and move it away and place the new brood box in its place. After 30 seconds gently prise the lid open with your hive tool. It could be well stuck down, so a little pressure will be required. With the hive tool gently lift each frame from the catch box and transfer it into the centre of the new brood chamber in the same sequence as they were in the catch box. Work slowly and gently so as not to injure any bees. There will be bees left in the catch box after the frames have been removed. Gently turn the box upside down over the frames in the brood chamber and give one firm thump on the catch box. 10 www.sasmallholder.co.za Catch box fastened to a tree The bees will fall down on to the frames. Do not do a second thump as it is this thump that kills bees and the bees could become upset and cross. Should there still be some bees in the catch box simply leave the box open and eventually the bees will move over to their new home. Place the lid over the new brood box. Job complete! Article by Peter Clark, author of Tales of an African Beekeeper and 2016 chairman of the Eastern Highveld Beekeepers Association, tel 011 362-2904, assisted by secretary Mike Alter tel 011 965-6040