Companionship like no other (Part 3) – a twist by Alheit du Toit

We have now covered why bees are important (Part 1 & 2) to South Africa’s Agriculture and what poses threats to these beneficial insects and what we can do to implement to prevent these threats to our local bee populations.

However, did you know that these bees have long-term companionship? Well, rather a mutual relationship?

Yes, even bees have a relationship, and this is typically the relationship between the Bee and a Flower of a plant or a tree.

Twist (Drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrum-roll) …this relationship is with an Invasive Alien Plant well known in South Africa, the Gum Tree. Gum trees (Eucalyptus sp) are diverse genus of flowering trees and shrubs belonging to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. These trees are cultivated widely because of their desirable characteristics such as:

1. being a fast-growing source of wood.
2. producing oil used for cleaning and as a natural insecticide.
3. use as windbreaks

In South Africa they are Invasive Alien Species that invade indigenous vegetation and suck up huge amounts of scarce water, however, they have an indirect but crucial role to play in South Africa’s food production.

Eucalyptus trees are used by bees as a forage resource. These trees provide a reliable pollen source and nectar flow, and because different species flower at various times of the year they provide a steady forage resource for colonies and produce lovely honey from these trees.

Now, why if these trees are so important for our bee population why do we need to remove them? Is it required that we remove all our Eucalyptus trees?

Well…No…only six eucalyptus species are listed as “Category 1b” invasive species (i.e., they must be ‘controlled’) as described in the Alien and Invasive Species Regulations promulgated in 2014 under NEMBA (the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004). Not all Eucalyptus species in South Africa must be removed. Landowners are often approached by dishonest or uneducated contractors who claim that all gums must be removed. This is however not the truth and the often-unnecessary removal of gums should be avoided.

Five steps can be followed to avoid unnecessary removal of these trees:

1. Determine Eucalyptus which do not require any intervention
2. Eucalyptus requiring removal
3. Identify your listed Eucalyptus species
4. Permits required for listed species
5. Removing invasive Eucalyptus trees

Are you able to determine and identify the Eucalyptus species on your property? Do you need to apply for demarcation permits? Contact us at Skyvines (Info@skyvines.co.za or quality2@skyvines.co.za) if you require any assistance in this.

Once these steps have been completed the area can be used to create honeybee foraging areas. All landowners with Eucalyptus play an important role in providing habitat and forage for honeybees. To ensure effective protection of these bees only allow access to registered beekeepers as listed under the local beekeeping associations which is available at www.sabio.org.za.

Work with these beekeepers to ensure that beehive sites are secure and inaccessible to vandals as beehives are often vandalised or stolen in SA. Finally, if you grow crops (e.g., canola, lucerne, sunflowers, citrus), be sure to tell beekeepers about any agro-chemical spraying, so that they can remove their bee colonies timeously. Be sure to have a Risk Mitigation plan in place and that it is followed on the property.