The hum of bees is the voice of the garden – Elizabeth Lawrence (Part 2)

Did you forget about us? Did you think that we will not return?

In South Africa and all over the world, you are dependent on us the bees and our pollination. This means, bees ensure a reliable and diverse seed and fruit supply through pollination. If pollinations occur it also improves the crop production and quality. It has also been shown through research that the use of commercial honey bees for pollination improves fruit set, fruit weight, and quality

However as discussed in Part 1 (A bee is an exquisite chemist) bees are threatened by pesticides, diseases and parasites. Bees are susceptible to diseases such as the European Foulbrood (EF) which is a bacterial diseases of honeybee larvae and pupae.  After the larvae ingested the food with the bacterium it then multiples in the mid-gut of the larvae and competes for larval food, resulting in the larvae dying of starvation.

Your question? How do you manage a bacteria? How can we ensure that our bee populations are not affected by these diseases? There are a few ways to prevent the spread, however, today we focus on Hygiene.

Hive tools, hands, and equipment need to be cleaned at all times to aid the prevention of hive contamination. To ensure this happens a procedure could be developed and implemented. A procedure is an established method of accomplishing a task, usually with steps that are performed in a prescribed order.

So to prevent the spread of this bacteria an hygiene procedure could be implemented which established methods to ensures that all tools and equipment are washed and cleaned regularly and that hands are washed prior to handling the beehives.

To further ensure that your procedure is followed employees or people handling the beehives have to be trained in the hygiene procedure. This could be done by formal training or by displaying the procedure on the facility.

Now that we have covered some threats to our bee populations, what can we do to help bees? Here are a few ways you can step in and help:

1. Plant as many native flowers in your yard or garden as possible.
2. Buy locally produced honey (or raw honey).
3. Create bee sanctuaries in your garden. Build structures around your garden that will attract bees and give them a place to nest.
4. Leave buckets of water around no matter how small you are the bees also get thirsty.
5. Avoid using any pesticides.
6. Ensure that if you have hives to maintain clean equipment and hygiene practices.

A hotel for Bugs:

Bug hotel is a space for beneficial insects. Made from various recycled and found objects, it provides an array of corners and crannies where various insects can shelter, hibernate and lay their eggs. It is a wonderful project for the whole family.

What do you require to build a bug hotel with the whole family:

1. Wooden box or any other wooden recycled material which would make a strong structure.
2. The hotel needs to be made into many compartments filled with a wide variety of nesting and hidey-hole options such as:
   1. Grasses
   2. Rocks
   3. Little solar light (to attract bugs)
   4. Logs (various sizes and ages)
   5. Hollow canes or bamboo
   6. Straw and sticks
   7. Pinecones

Once you bug hotel is completed place it in your garden close to areas with various plant species to attract the right guests.  This is a great opportunity to help increase the beneficial insects in your garden and a great way to have a fun and exiting time with your family (Figures below).