JOHANNESBURG - After weeks of heavy rains in many parts of the country, temperatures are heating up and that is not good for the bees.
Extreme heat places significant stress on bees, says Chairperson of the South African Bee Industry Organisation (SABIO), Tumi Mobu.
'During very hot conditions, bees redirect energy away from foraging towards survival activities such as cooling the hive, collecting water and reducing flight,' says Mobu.
This often results in lower foraging activity, exhaustion and dehydration, particularly among older foragers and solitary bees.
In addition, when plants are heat-stressed, nectar production drops or stops altogether. This reduces food availability for the bees.
Bees may travel further to forage, compete more intensely for limited floral resources, or reduce activity to conserve energy.
'Over time, this weakens colonies, affects brood development and lowers overall resilience, says Mobu.
Mobu says it is normal for bees to rest and remain still for long periods during very hot weather. They will often rest in shaded or cooler areas to prevent overheating.
'Prolonged immobility may also indicate heat stress and dehydration,' says Mobu.
Providing shallow water sources with safe landing spots, such as stones or twigs, can help bees during heatwaves, he adds.
Continued heat extremes disrupt pollination by affecting both flowering patterns and pollinator activity. This has knock-on effects for biodiversity, ecosystem stability and agricultural production, particularly for crops that rely on insect pollination.
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Over time, this places additional pressure on food systems and food security.
'South Africa’s honeybees are among the most resilient globally, shaped by highly variable climates and largely managed without chemical intervention," says Mobu.
That resilience has sustained our beekeeping systems for decades. However, resilience does not mean immunity, and the increasing frequency and intensity of heat events are beginning to test even these well-adapted systems.