Karen Dunn, beekeeper, zoologist and psychologist, recently charmed attendees at the Melville Koppies AGM with her talk on solitary bees.
“Most of us know about honey bees, but these are the only two species out of about 1300 bee species that live in South Africa,” said Dunn.
“Although bees have evolved from wasps, they are plumper, more curvaceous and hairier than wasps so they can more easily pick up pollen.”
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While honey bees live together in large bee colonies of about 40-60 000, almost all solitary bees live alone, don’t sting and need the pollen and nectar from flowers to nurture their young.
Seventy percent of solitary bees live in the ground, the rest make their homes in holes in bits of wood, hollow stems of reeds and sometimes old bits of furniture and fabric.
They lay an egg or eggs inside the hole, line it with a mixture of pollen and nectar, and seal off the exit.
Once the baby bee hatches, it eats its way through its own pantry and out of its door and flies away to continue the process all over again.
Come and see if you can spot a solitary bee on one of the tiny hyacinths that are just emerging from the dusty, dry ground.
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Melville Koppies is open every Sunday from 08:00 to 11:30.
Visitors can book a guided tour costing R100 for adults and R50 for persons under the age of 18, to learn about the history, geology and more.
Alternatively visitors can enjoy a self-guided hike along the many paths.
Standard entry costs R90 for adults and R50 for children under 18.
The area is safe to walk alone and security is provided.
Safe parking opposite the entrance to Melville Koppies at Marks Park Sports Club in Judith Road, Emmarentia.
All income used for maintenance of the Koppies.
For enquiries contact 079 532 0083 or email wendavid@mweb.co.za
