BEE HEALTH: A FOLLOW-UP

On 9 November an article appeared on the front page of the Lowvelder about a hundred dead bee swarms in Alkmaar, just outside Nelspruit.  The beekeeper who lost those swarms is a friend of ours.  Tests were conducted on the bees in a Nelspruit laboratory and significant amounts of pesticides were picked up in the samples.
   On 14 November there was an interview on Cape Talk with a beekeeper in Constantia who lost tens of thousands of bees the previous week in the Constantia-Tokai area.  The test results are still being awaited but the signs, suddenness and large quantity of deaths point towards pesticides at this stage.
   Then on Thursday, 15/11/2018, came an urgent call.  Mr Nepfumbada, who is in charge of pesticide regulation at Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), required reports of the bee swarms that we lost earlier this year.  DAFF is sitting up and taking notice.  We are soooo grateful.  Across the country, through the provincial and national beekeepers associations, all beekeepers who lost swarms in this year due to pesticide poisoning were requested to deliver their reports.  We believe that finally people are realising how big the threat is to bees in South Africa.  We still have legalised pesticides that are regularly used in South Africa of which the active ingredients are banned in Europe.  There are also products with misleading information on the labels.  Therefore, when the agricultural chemical agents advise the farmers according to the labels, the results can be devastating.
   So, what can the general public do to improve bee health?  Much indeed!!  Firstly, start by planting bee friendly plants in your garden.  Bees love basil (green, purple and blue), lavender, roses and rosemary.  The more food available, the more healthy the swarms.  Most nurseries will be able to help you with a long list of options to plant a bee-friendly garden.  Secondly, do not spray pesticides, especially not on your fruit trees and vegetables if it is in the flowering season.  You can find long lists on Google of super easy things to do, like making a beetle trap with banana, fruit-fly mixtures and other gentle, non-toxic remedies, helpful to keep pests at bay.
   Farmers, the greatest gift that you can give the bee farmers is communication.  Just talk, in advance.  We can remove the bees, close the hives, or discuss a more bee-friendly option.  Some pesticides can be sprayed after sunset when the worker bees are back at the hives.  We really applaud the many, many farmers out there who consider the health of the bees and communicate with the bee farmers.
   Every swarm of bees lost to pesticides is one swarm too many.