A Beekeeper's Myth

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People sometimes ask us about the secrets of the beekeeper's trade. They want to know how we do it and this is the story one old timer repeats whenever he is asked about the tricks of his trade. In his youth, the old man did not yet know anything about bees. He was conscripted into the military and spent time in Saldhana Bay during his service. At the base in Saldhana a substantial colony of bees took over one entire barracks and a beekeeper was called in. Our young soldier who was not yet a beekeeper and whose name was Edward found the fellow who came out to do the job fascinating.

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He was amazed when, after a short time alone with the swarm of bees, the beekeeper came out of the closed barracks with the hive neatly contained and ready to transport. He asked how it was done and the man told him. He said that he had perfected a low, vibrating whistle which attracted the bees. “All I have to do is patiently whistle through an opening in the hive I want to attract a swarm to and, gradually, with patience and being careful not to disturb the insects I am able to remove them.”

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“That's incredible” said young Edward. After the beekeer left Ed spent every spare moment he had available trying to whistle to bees. It was years before he had opportunity to try it out in earnest but he eventually did when he got a job on a bee farm.

Some apparent myths are true, check out our photos of a Bee Scorpion!