Growers are often cheated from good pollination by fraudulent beekeepers who use substandard hives for pollination. Growers can contact their provincial/local beekeeping association to request, at a fee, a hive inspection service.
These are the recommended standards for a good pollination hive in South Africa established by the Western Cape Bee Industry Association.
The hive inspection service is not restrictive to crops and/or varieties.
A standard Langstroth-type beehive with no fewer than 10 individually removable, deep frames.
All frames are to be reinforced to prevent collapse during transport.
A honey super is allowed, subject to conditions specified below.
The super must have no fewer than 9 individually removable, super frames.
The DALRRD registration number to be clearly visible on all hives.
The construction and condition of the hive must be such that it can be sealed easily & quickly.
Colonies must be sealed during delivery, transport or collection such that few to no bees escape.
The hive configuration and closing mechanism must be such that it facilitates sufficient ventilation to the bees and brood at all times and prevents overheating or suffocation during transport.
The colony should forage normally within 24 hours after delivery during normal, dry and mild weather (above 17 degrees C).
There are few to no dead or dying bees seen in front of the hives.
The hive should be queenright.
The queen should be actively laying as reflected by a normal brood pattern, with a balance between eggs, larvae and sealed brood.
The colony should be healthy and properly managed such that:
No clinical symptoms of American Foulbrood are present.
A maximum of 50 cells with European Foulbrood are present.
A maximum of 50 cells with chalkbrood are present.
A maximum of 50 small hive beetles are present in the colony.
Varroa mite numbers in the colony do not exceed more than 5 mites per 100 adult bees.
Average (90%) strength of bee colonies in a consignment should measure at least:
A minimum of 4 brood frames of brood (each brood frame must have at least 75% of the frame covered in brood).
Or the equivalent amount of brood covering more than 4 brood frames.
A minimum of 8 brood frames covered by bees in a calmed-down condition.
No more than 3 deep frames of stored honey.
No more than 2 deep frames of stored pollen.
No more than 2 frames of honey in a super, should a super be present
No Pollination unit in any consignment should measure less than:
3 brood frames of brood (each brood frame must have at least 75% of the frame covered in brood).
Or the equivalent amount of brood covering more than 3 brood frames.
And 6 brood frames covered by bees in a calmed-down condition.
No more than 3 deep frames of stored honey.
No more than 2 deep frames of stored pollen.
No more than 2 frames of honey in a super, should a super be present
Developed by the WCBA (Western Cape Bee Industry Association).
The Western Cape Bee Industry Association is a provincial body that represents local beekeepers.
MORE ABOUT WCBAWCBA is a member of SABIO, the South African Bee Industry Organisation. It’s task is to represent the apiary industry, with board members engaging with government and trade and agricultural industry sectors.
MORE ABOUT SABIO