Bee

wood bees

2008-08-02T12:05:00.001-07:00

How to Deal with Wood Bees

Wood bees, sometimes also called carpenter bees can cause damage to your house and any wooden structure. The damage is usually not serious and is only cosmetic, however there is a possibility of serious damage to a structure is wood bees have been repeatedly using the house as a nesting ground for a long time.

The problem is usually a nuisance as it is not pleasant to have unsightly holes, usually around a half-inch wide. Usually wood bees prefer old, weathered wood but any home with a lot of wooden fixtures can become a target.

Favorite Woods

There are certain types of wood that wood bees love to use for their tunnels that eventually become nests. Most eastern species will be attracted to softwoods, as the wood is easier to tunnel through. Woods that can become the nesting grounds of wood bees are cedar, fir, redwood, cypress, and pine. Oak and eucalyptus are also the favorites of western wood bees.

Almost any structural timber can be the nesting ground of these bees. Fence posts and lawn furniture is not spared though more commonly porch ceilings, roof eaves, shingles and railings are a target. Wood that is painted is usually avoided, as are woods that have bark. Smooth unfinished woods make the best homes for these bees.

Hidden Problem

The tunnels of wood bees can be extensive and are hidden. On the surface all you will see are the entry holes that are a half-inch wide. Inside the wood however there are tunnels that can extend ten feet. If a colony of these bees continually uses the tunnels then the wood can be damaged very badly and require replacement.

Besides structural damage and the unsightliness of the holes the bees can also be a nuisance in other ways. The loud buzzing can be disturbing and the male bees often fly at people that they perceive are a threat. However the male bee has no stinger and can do no harm. Killing adult bees is not the answer as the larvae inside the tunnels will eventually hatch and continue the problem.

Non-Chemical Approach

The problem of these types of bees can be easily dealt with. There is no need to use chemicals to get rid of these bees. Simply plugging the holes to the tunnels is sufficient to get rid of the problem. You can use caulk and the bees will not tunnel out. Do this in the evening and wear protective clothing. You can also fill the tunnels with sealant. As a preventative measure you can paint wooden surfaces with oil-based paint to keep bees away.

types of bees

2008-08-02T12:04:00.004-07:00

Types of Bees in a Colony

Bees are the little farmers that help farmers with their crops. Almost all bees have something to do with propagating some species of plants which in turn help us increase our food sources. There is a hierarchy on the colony that classifies what types of bees are there and what they do.

Queen Bee

The queen bee is usually the only female bee in the colony that is capable of reproduction. Although the queen bee has a limited life span of only one to three years, these types of bees are the most important to the colony. Their importance is measured in relation to their effort of laying eggs to supply the colony with more workers bees and more drones. This ensures that the colony will be bigger and stronger and there are more food gatherers as well as those who take care of the larvae.

The queen bee is considerably larger than all other types of bees in the colony. She lacks the basic food gathering tools that are present with the worker bees. She also has stinger that she can use several times without any danger of dying unlike the other types of bees that die immediately after stinging.

Drones

These types of bees are the most disposable of all the types of bees in the colony. Their only purpose in their short life is to mate with the queen, after which they die. Drones are the types of bees that have no stingers and cannot fend for themselves. Worker bees feed them until the time that they are needed by the queen bee. The effect of mating with the drones can last for the entire lifetime of the queen since the sperm that they give remain viable in her abdomen even after such a long time.

Worker Bees

These types of bees are the most prevalent in any colony. Workers bees are the epitome of workers that work almost endlessly. These types of bees bear the brunt of maintaining the health and well being of all other bees in the colony. They gather the food, ventilate the hive, construct cells, take care of the larvae and the queen, protect the hive and many other endless tasks.

These types of bees have an average life span of six to seven weeks. They are extremely busy and initially start the first three weeks of their lives in the hive fixing cells and feeding the larvae.

These three types of bees are the more common in any colony. Some different kinds of bees may have other types of bees outside of the three mentioned above.

secret life of bees

2008-08-02T12:04:00.003-07:00

A Review Of The Secret Life Of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees is a best selling novel by author Sue Monk Kidd. This article is going to take a look at The Secret Life of Bees and give you a basic plot summary and review.

The Secret Life of Bees – Summary and Review

The book opens in South Carolina in the mid 60s. Our story revolves around Lily Ownes. Her mother was killed and she is abused by her father on a daily basis. Lily does not remember much about her Mom and when she asks her Dad about it he leads her to believe that it was her fault she died.

T. Ray – here dad – often mistreats he by making her kneel on dry grits for hours at a time. In the beginning of the book Rosaleen, Lily’s nanny, is arrested for pouring snuff juice on the shoes of three racist men after a verbal assault. Rosaleen is then beaten in her cell and hospitalized. In addition to that T. Ray tells Lily that day that her mother never loved her and in fact left her behind when she was little.

Distraught Lily decides to break Rosaleen out of jail and head to Tiburon, South Carolina. This is the only place she knows that her mother may have lived and wants to go there to find out as much as she can.

When she gets to Tiburon Lily spots a black lady on a jar of honey and goes to the beekeepers house. Lily then becomes an apprentice beekeeper under the watch of August. During this period Lily goes through a lot because she wants to know about her mom, but does not want to rock the boat.

While working as an assistant with August Lily meets Zach Taylor. Zach gets arrested for throwing a bottle at a racist. May, when of the sisters that Lily is staying with, becomes so distraught over this that she kills herself.

In the end Lily does end up asking about her Mom and finds out the most of what her Dad told her was true, but while the facts are correct her Mom’s reasoning behind her actions is not told truthfully by her father.

After this her father learns of her whereabouts and confronts her. Her and her dad fight, but eventually he sees the light and decides that her staying with the beekeepers is probably for the best.

Overall The Secret Life of Bees a decent book. I found it to be a bit sappy for my tastes, but if you like that kind of stuff than this one is for you. Overall I give The Secret Life of Bees three and a half out of five stars.

Salt Lake City Bees

2008-08-02T12:04:00.001-07:00

Diminishing Salt Lake City Bees

The honeybee is Utah's official insect. It is admired for its immense ability for hard work. The home of the Salt Lake City Bees has been made the state's symbol. Unfortunately the beloved honeybee is being threatened by the Varroa mite, and the bee hives may be wiped out from not only Utah, but from across the country.

Going Downhill

In addition to the mite and other bee-born diseases, the Salt Lake City Bees industry has been sidetracked due to an invasion of cheaper foreign honey into the country, mostly Asia. Beekeepers are still trying to keep their business going by rebuilding their hives. They have split existing hives in order to start new ones. It has however not been very effective for the breeders of Salt Lake City Bees, as the system of splitting leaves hives that produce less honey.

There has been a growing shortage of hives for Salt Lake City Bees. Hence the leasing of hives has witnessed a price hike. This trend could be devastating for Utah fruit growers, as farmers in California and other states take hives of the Salt Lake City Bees to their orchards.

Concern For Farmers

The shortage of the Salt Lake City Bees is a cause for worry for farmers who grow the sweet cherry. Cherries like almonds pollinate best with honeybees. It seems that the honeybees seem weaker as of late, as if they are burned out. Over the years, the Salt Lake City Bees don't seem to work as hard and are diminishing drastically.

The drastic reduction of Salt Lake City Bees is a great concern for all farmers. Bees are an important factor in growing fruit, and if they are not there, the whole effect will be damaging. Other bee species have arrived in Utah and have shown some promise as effective pollinators.

Maybe a lot of people do not understand that bees are an important factor in growing fruit. That is why the beekeepers are indeed proud to have the symbol of the beehive on the state flag, but the beekeepers need help to keep the Salt Lake City Bees buzzing away.

Beekeeping Supplies

There are many suppliers and dealers in Salt Lake City who keep beekeeper's supplies, and there are shops which have been doing it for the last forty years. Such shops keep all the supplies ranging from books to kits for beekeeping.

For all beekeeping adventures and especially considering the Salt Lake City Bees, there is a lot of basic information available on beekeeping. This information includes hives, beekeeping equipments and how the beekeeper can protect himself. It still remains a business in Utah, and agriculture experts are working on an improvement of the situation.

queen bee

2008-08-02T12:03:00.002-07:00

Importance of the Queen Bee to your Hive

Fledgling practicing bee keepers should understand that the queen bee is the most important thing that keeps the hive alive and flourishing because without her, the hive would die. The queen bee is the only member of the hive which lays eggs, an obvious skill which is needed to keep the hive alive and thriving. This supreme bee is not any mystical creature but just uses her clout and skills to overpower other virgin bees during her royal reign, usually lasting up to two years.

Defining the Royal Role

There is a different development process for the queen that is set apart from the bee colony's population of drone bees. Before the egg containing the queen bee hatches, she forms inside what is known as a queen cell and she is fed with royal jelly, a special oozing discharge created from the heads of younger bees. The queen bee alone is fed this special jelly which imparts particular sexual characteristics that are not found in other bees, particularly the working drone bees.

While most bees all look the same within a hive, you can tell the different between them and the queen bee because she has a longer shaped body and does not leave the colony hive except for mating. In fact, the queen will mate with multiple drones and then return to the hive to produce thousands of eggs a day to perpetuate the colony. Without those thousands of eggs a day laid and the loss of the queen bee, the hive would quickly die off.

Other Royal Information

The bees in the hive put themselves in great peril on a daily basis to ensure the survival of the queen bee, particularly when she leaves the hive to mate with some drones. Without the mating process, she cannot lay the many eggs needed for hive survival and unfortunately, things like foul weather can interrupt the mating.

One of the ways that the queen bee asserts her dominant authority is to exude a special substance which prompts other bees to lick off her. The problem for the other bees lies in the fact that this special substance inhibits their growth so they do not become mature in a sexual way. Of course, there is a problem when more than one queen bee exists in a hive at any given time. Typically, the weaker queen will depart the colony hive and fly away to find another one in which she can exert her dominance for her remaining time.

A queen bee may lose her authority in the hive either by dying (obviously) or when a younger queen bee challenges her and imparts a killing sting. Being a royal in a buzzing, busy hive has its downside for the queen bee but it is the call of nature to perpetuate the species.

National Geographic Bee

2008-08-02T12:03:00.001-07:00

The Challenging National Geographic Bee

Thousands of schools in North America participate in the national geographic bee. The material that is used by children is prepared by the National Geographical Society. The main aim of the contest is to encourage teachers to include geography as one of the subjects in school. In this way it can spark an interest in geography in the students and also increase public awareness about geography.

The eligibility for participation is for schools with students from grade four to eight. It is indeed an entertaining and challenging test of knowledge in geography, and the final round of the national geographic bee is going to be aired nationally on the National Geographic Channel on May 21 and later on public television stations.

The Process

The competition of the national geographic bee is conducted in three phases. It begins at the school level. The schools which register for the competition receive materials to carry out their competitions. There is one winner from each school, and that student has to take a written test. The top hundred scorers in each state and territory then compete at the state level.

In spring the state-level national geographic bee is held and the winner of each state competition is then eligible for the national competition. This is held in Washington D, C, where 55 state and territory winners meet at the National Geographic Society headquarters.

At the end there are ten finalists and they compete for a college scholarship. The second and third winners also receive college scholarships. It is indeed a prestigious scholarship, both for the student and the school where the student was trained.

Tips for Students

There is a national geographic bee Official Study Guide to give tips to students so that they can prepare for the competition. The students should be provided with the necessary study tools like a good, up-to-date world map, an atlas, and a good geography reference book. With the help of blank outline maps they can practice how to locate places.

The students should also learn Map Terminology so that they can understand what they are looking at. It is important to read labels and coordinates correctly on a map. The students should understand the interconnectedness of geography to compete in the national geographic bee. Geography has several subdivisions like physical features, climate and culture and all are connected with each other.

Any competition and especially the national geographic bee demand that all competitors are up-to-date with current events. Bee questions can be about political upheavals, international agreements and discoveries. Students should learn how to analyze questions, because that is the best way to learn by looking for clues.

After all, learning is fun and learning for the national geographic bee should also be fun, especially learning geography. Students can even play games to help study for the Bee, so that the learning process is enjoyed by the students.

missing bees

2008-08-02T12:02:00.004-07:00

The Case of Missing Bees

Whenever we hear that there is a case of missing bees going on, the first thing we experience is obviously fear. If we were a farmer we may think of other aspects, such as the financial trauma that would incur with a case of missing bees.

What Happened?

Back in January a few years ago there was a case of missing bees, which took place in New Brusnwick, Canada. The beekeepers there were trying to figure out what was going on, what was killing their bees.

There was actually even a study performed as a result of this, because bees are widely used for farmers in this area to help pollinate the crops. Some industry experts blamed the long harsh Canadian winter as being the reason for why the bees were killed off and some missing.

This absence of bees greatly affected the wellbeing of the beekeepers, because many of them lost over 50% of their bees, which is a serious loss.

The Importance of Bees

This is certainly not the only case of missing bees, but it is important for all people to be aware of just how many benefits bees offer us and how important they are to life in general. There are many reasons for this – for one, bees are responsible for pollinating plants that provide much of our food, and so if bees were extinct then we as humans would have a lot fewer food sources.

Bees are of inestimable valuable as agents of cross-pollination and many plants are entirely dependent on particular kinds of bees for their reproduction. In many cases the use of insecticide for agricultural pest control has left some very unwelcome side effects on bees, by killing them off or driving them away from the area.

If you ever hear about any missing bees, you should definitely get more involved and see if there is anything that you can do. The basic fact is that most people do not care about bees and definitely do not realize the importance that they play in our world.

So next time a bee is buzzing around you, rather than swatting at it and trying to kill it, just leave it alone because it probably is just looking for the next flower and really has no concern with you at all. This of course excludes killer bees, which actually attack humans and pets and have no mercy as they will follow for blocks and can end up stinging the person or animal to death.

killer bees

2008-08-02T12:02:00.003-07:00

Africanized Honey Bees (Killer Bees)

Most people are familiar with the existence of what are commonly called killer bees. They have been the stuff of movies and legend for quite some time. What some people do not realize is that they are real, and they can be quite dangerous. The following will help us gain a better understanding of just what killer bees really are.

Origin

Killer bees are actually a mixed breed. They originated when Brazilian scientists took South African bees and tried to breed them to produce more honey. These bees ended up breeding with the Brazilian honey bee to become what we know as the killer bee. When this happened, they quickly multiplied and began to spread out of control. They made their first appearance in the United States in the early nineties, in the South West States.

Contrary to popular belief, the poison in their sting is no more potent than the average honey bee. The thing that sets killer bees apart is the fact that they are extremely aggressive. Very rarely will someone bee stung by just a single bee. When they attack, they attack in large swarms. They also need very little reason to attack. They will attack even if you are near their hive, you don’t even have to be provoking them. When an attack begins, the chemical released into the victim will attract other bees to join the attack. This is how these killer bees have gotten their name.

If you do experience a killer bee attack, many of the same rules apply that are recommended for common bees. The first thing you want to do is cover your head and face. This is probably the area that they are swarming around. The next thing you want to do is run for cover. Try to get to a house or a car or some other type of shelter. Some people might recommend jumping into water, but killer bees are highly intelligent and they will wait for you to come back up. Another thing to remember is how aggressive these bees are. They will pursue you much farther than regular bees will. If you have been stung, chances are you have been stung many times. Once you reach shelter, seek medical treatment immediately.

There are some other things you should keep in mind if you live in an area that has a history of killer bees. You should be suspicious of any bees that you see acting overly aggressive or out of the ordinary. One killer bee can breed with a colony of regular bees and make the entire hive aggressive. If you find a colony of bees on your property, have it removed by your local pest control. If you suspect an area of your property to be the location of a hive, seal it up immediately.

how to get rid of bees

2008-08-02T12:02:00.001-07:00

How to Humanely Get Rid Of Bees

Have you noticed a higher number of bees in your yard this year and you want to know how to get rid of the bees? You probably want to just grab a can of Raid and go for it, but you may be able to learn how to get rid of your bees and still let them live.

Why Not Just Kill Them?

Bees are useful creatures that can be delightful and entertaining to watch, once you stop worrying about getting stung. Yes, they are irritating at a picnic or on a patio when they swarm around you and your food. However, without bees, there would be no honey and no pollination of crops. Don't kill the bees unless you have to.

Beekeepers travel with their beehives, releasing the bees to pollinate entire orchards of fruit trees or acres of food crop fields at one time. Bees return to the hive every night after the day's work is done, so it is easy for the beekeeper to tote them to the next location. We need bees to survive.

Unfortunately, scientists and beekeepers alike have noticed a reduction in the amount of honey bees that return to the hive every night. Researchers are studying the phenomena and are concerned that global climate change or the prevalence of wireless data waves in the air may confuse the bees and prevent them from finding their way back to the hive. So many bees are dying off naturally that we should avoid intentionally killing them if possible.

How To Get Rid Of Bees Without Killing Them

The first step in assessing your bee problem is to determine if there is a bee hive on your property. Carefully inspect the property, especially along the eaves where the roof meets the siding of your house. If you find a hive, you will have to call a professional pest controller, who will, sadly, exterminate the bees.

If you are just noticing more bees than usual and want to control them, however, and you do not have a nest or a hive on your property, there are several ways you can manage your bee problem without killing them.

How To Get Rid Of Bees – Lure Them Away

Bees are most attracted to blossoming flowers. Plant a flowerbed or perennial border, or even a whiskey barrel or other attractive container with flowering plants, and stand back and watch the bees leave you alone and focus all their attention on the blooms.

How To Get Rid Of Bees – Smoke Them Out

The citronella candle smoke that keeps mosquitoes away from your alfresco dinner table in the evenings will keep bees away during the day. You may feel silly lighting a candle outdoors in broad daylight, but placing citronella candles around the perimeter of your outdoor living space will significantly reduce the amount of bees in your area.

honey bees dying

2008-08-02T12:01:00.002-07:00

Why Are Honey Bees Dying?

Since 2006, 35% or more of the Western honey bees living in the United States have mysteriously disappeared. Billions of honey bees took off from hives and simply disappeared.

Honey Bees Dying – Some Details About Honey Bees

Honey bees are a subset of bees, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of colonial nests of wax. Honey bees represent only a small fraction of the approximately 20,000 known species of bees.

Dwarf honey bees are small honey bees from Asia. They make very small, exposed nests in trees and shrubs. Their sting usually cannot penetrate the human skin, so the hive and swarms can be handled with minimum protection.

Giant honey bees usually build single or a few exposed combs on high tree limbs, on cliffs, and sometimes on buildings. Periodically robbed of their honey by human "honey hunters," colonies are easily capable of stinging a human being to death when provoked.

Honey Bees Dying – Crop Pollinator

Honey bees are one of the most important crop pollinators on Earth. Many of the crops that depend on honey bees for pollination have been imported since colonial times. Escaped swarms spread rapidly as far as the Great Plains, usually preceding the colonists. The Native Americans called the honey bee "the white man's fly." Honey bees were not successful trying to cross the Rocky Mountains, but were carried to California by ship.

Honey Bees Dying – Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)

The honey bee scientists can't figure out this carnage, but they have come up with a new name for the phenomenon, Colony Collapse Disorder.

In hives hit by CCD, adult workers simply fly away and disappear, leaving a small cluster of workers and the hive's young to fend for themselves. Adding to the mystery, nearby predators, such as the wax moth, are refraining from moving in to pilfer honey and other hive contents from the abandoned hives; in CCD-affected hives the honey remains untouched.

The symptoms are baffling, but one of the emerging hypotheses is that the scourge is underpinned by a collapse of the bee's immune systems. Stressed out by cross-country truck journeys and drought, attacked by viruses and introduced parasites, or whacked out by harmful new pesticides, some researchers believe the bee's natural defenses may have simply given way. This opens the door to a host of problems that the bees can normally suppress.

Honey Bees Dying – Other Threats

Even without CCD, the number of managed hives in the U. S. has dwindled by nearly 50% since the industry's peak in the 1970's. The main culprit for the die-offs is a tiny Asian mite. Sometime in the early 1980's the Asian mite spread like wildfire throughout the defenseless Western honey bee population with the help of migratory beekeepers who obligingly trucked them around the country. The mites suck the vital juices out of both developing and adult honey bees, who then die. Left unchecked, the mite can kill a hive within 12 months.

honey bees

2008-08-02T12:01:00.001-07:00

Things You May Not Know About Honey Bees

As far as bees go, there may not be any quite as intriguing as honey bees. Many people do not realize how much we, as humans, rely on these amazing creatures. Let’s dig in and take a closer look at this industrious insect.

Little Known Facts

In the scientific world, they are known as Apis mellifera. They are made up of six legs, two eyes, two wings, a stomach, and a nectar pouch. Honey bees can be found living in hives of up to 60,000 bees. There will be worker bees, drones, and one queen. The queen does nothing but lay eggs. The drones are made up of the male population and their sole responsibility is to mate with the queen. The female bees are the worker bees that produce the honey. Their tiny buzzing wings can carry them six miles at up to fifteen miles per hour.

These female honey bees will leave the hive and collect honey from various types of flowers. In one trip, they will collect from between 50 and 100 different flowers. They will typically live between six and eight weeks, and each bee will produce only a fraction of a teaspoon of honey in their lifetime. It’s easy to see why there are so many bees needed to perform this process. The queen is responsible for keeping the population up. She will lay around 2500 eggs every day. The lifespan of a queen is between two and three years.

As many of us are aware, honey bees do sting, but only the females. The drones have no stingers because they never leave the hive. The female worker bees will sting if they are provoked or are trying to protect the hive. After a female honey bee stings, it dies. The queen also has a stinger, but since they never leave the hive, they do not use it.

Honey bees use a method of dancing movements to communicate with one another. They also have a unique way of distinguishing their hive from other honey bee hives. Each one has a specific odor that is used for identification.

Another interesting fact is that honey bees are the only ones that produce something that is eaten by humans. The honey they produce is used for a number of different purposes. This is why we need to do whatever we can to protect these insects. It’s also the reason that so many people are getting into bee keeping.

ground bees

2008-08-02T12:00:00.002-07:00

Common Bee Species: Ground Bees

There are a few different bee species that are known of and recognized today, and one of the most common and well known are the ground bees. In most situations it is not best to eliminate ground bees and wasps since they are valuable in agricultural production by either pollinating many different plants or by serving as useful predators in controlling harmful pests.

If ground nesting bees and wasps can be ignored and their tunnels tolerated, do so since they are valuable in agricultural production and helpful by controlling pests in nature. They are very important to life in general, and so you should never swat any bee and try to kill it because you never know if it is a ground bee, which are already on their way to becoming extinct.

About the Bees

There is a lot of important information that you should know about ground bees. For one, they are dependent on pollen as a protein source and on flower nectar or oils as an energy source. The pollen they inevitably lose in going from flower to flower is important to plants because some of the pollen that the bees are losing ends up on the pistils in the flowers, which results in cross-pollination because it lands on the pistils of other flowers of the same species.

There are some 20,000 species of bees worldwide, including ground bees as one of the most common, and this is just an average, there are probably many more. Most types of bees have specialized branched or feathery body hairs, and these help because they assist them in collecting the pollen.

Bees have very diverse nesting habits, and so ground bees for instance differ greatly in the way that they nest and live than say bumblebees do. This is actually one of the easiest ways that beekeepers can tell them apart, other than their obvious physical characteristics of course.

There are 11 different families of bees, and scientists are able to tell the difference between them all by the subtle differences that can be found in their wing veins and the structure of their mouthparts. Obviously it is necessary to pay attention to very small details then if you are trying to tell the difference between different families of bees.

Bees are truly fascinating and whether you are interested in learning about ground bees in particular or all sorts of different bees, there is much important information that you are going to want to know.

get rid of bees

2008-08-02T12:00:00.001-07:00

Learning How to Get Rid of Bees

If you want to learn how to get rid of bees then there are a few key pieces of information you are going to want to know.

Tips

There are a few important tips that anyone looking to get rid of bees will want to know. For one, you should never attempt to remove the bees yourself, because although you may have read up on a lot of information and feel as though you could do it, chances are that you do not have the experience, knowledge, and equipment to be able to do it properly and safely.

You should first call your local bee removal service, and ask them how much they charge to get rid of bees. There should be a few different services available in your area and you will want to call around to get average prices and to figure out who is going to offer you the best deal.

Keep in mind that to prevent future bee colonies from building near you again, you should always make sure that there are no empty food containers lying around your yard, because these could attract a swarm. You also want to make sure that if you have any flowers or other plants growing around your home that you at least keep them away from your front door so that bees will not be swarming around in this area.

Remember that simply spraying the nest with pesticides will not work and will probably only end up making the bees aggravated. Bees have excellent chemoreceptors and are actually attracted to the sites which smell of the comb of previous nests, with or without pesticide. Therefore you will need to remove an entire bee hive before you will have a successful bee removal.

Although you may find bees annoying and like most people, swat one away if it comes near you, you should realize that learning how to get rid of bees is not always the best idea, for a couple of reasons. For one, bees are very important to our world and life in general, and without bees we would be without quite a few different – and important – food sources.

So rather than killing a bee the next time it is flying around you, just walk away or at least leave it alone, because there is already a problem of bees becoming extinct and you do not want to contribute to the problem.

carpenter bees

2008-08-02T11:59:00.004-07:00

Understanding Carpenter Bees

While all bees are important in the pollination process of many plants and flowers, there are some that do not have much of a use beyond that role – like carpenter bees. The carpenter bee is aptly named because it creates their nests in wood, often unfortunately in the wood of your home. What these carpenter bees do is hollow out tunnels a "rooms" in the wood to lay their eggs but they do not eat the wood.

A Closer Look at their Habits

Carpenter bees typically do not cause obvious structural damage but rather cosmetic damage that is not easily fixed. They do not find obvious holes visible to the naked eye to start their burrowing but rather look for weaknesses in the wood whether it is around a nail or screw or even a simple scratch in the wood.

There are different varieties of carpenter bees throughout the country and depending on the area, their wood preferences change. What is common in all of these bees is that they much prefer softer wood or wood that is not well-protected by bark or paint. Fir, pine, cedar, cypress, oak, redwood … most wood varieties are not impervious to the destruction of these burrowing carpenter bees.

Their Life

Rather solitary in nature, carpenter bees do not create colonies beholden to one queen that lays all the eggs. Instead, adult carpenters will mate once per year with the male dying off quickly while the female lays the eggs for perpetuation of the species. She will burrow into the wood to create little rooms in which to lay eggs and provide food for the larvae in each room before dying too.

Eventually, the larvae hatch producing new little carpenter bees which end up collecting the leftover food and feeding off of it while working their way out of their current wooded nest. The carpenter bees make their way out, finding new mates, creating new burrowed wooded rooms before the life cycle starts over again.

While carpenter bees do not eat the wood they burrow through and usually do not cause major structural damage, what damage they do cause can be unsightly and costly to fix. It is important that homeowners prime and seal the wood of their home with multiple coats of paint or whatever is needed to "plug" any potentially vulnerable sites in which the carpenter bees can burrow. Professional help through the employment of a pest control company may be needed to combat a current carpenter bee problem as they are quite difficult to get rid of on your own.

busy bee

2008-08-02T11:59:00.003-07:00

Dangers to the Busy Bee and the Future of Many Crops

Not too many people stop to think about how important the busy bee is to the world, preferring to think of them as pesky, stinging creatures. The fact is that the bee is very important to the pollination process for countless plants, flowers, crops, trees and more. Without the busy bee, there would be no pretty flowers to cut and admire in vases, no apples, oranges or other fruits that grow on flowering trees and no crops either.

Threats to their Existence

There are several threats to the existence of the busy bee and some of them are the result of man's inability to think ahead to the Earth's future. Pollution is a big problem for bees and because they have very highly sensitized bodies, if they detect something in the air is not right they will abandon a hive or even die off.

Environmental pollution such as pesticides and release of chemical in the air can upset the delicate balance of the busy bee's life in the hive. For instance, everyone knows that the bee collects pollen from plants and flowers so what if that pollen was tainted by chemicals from pesticides? The poor bee is unknowingly bringing poison into their hive which could affect the life of countless bees most notably the queen bee that is responsible for laying eggs to perpetuate the hive.

Illnesses caused by bacteria and viruses could eventually become a global problem for the busy bee as it can be quite hard to pinpoint the problem without extensive testing and study. There have been reports around the world of bees abandoning their productive hives for no apparent reason with the eventual result being attributed to a virus. What researchers are worried about is the potential threat of this virus mutating after they get a handle on how to combat the problem.

Dependency on the Bee

Whether the world likes it or not, everyone is dependent on the busy bee for their health and basic needs, all because they collect pollen on their legs and bodies. Bees are partially responsible for the great biological diversity on the plant because of their pollination skills and everyone needs to play a part in protecting that role.

Reducing toxic emissions in the environment and using only organic, non-toxic chemicals in pesticides are just two ways to help the busy bee maintain a safe haven in their colonized hives. Their lives are held in a constant delicate balance and humans need to do their part to ensure that balance stays on an even keel.

bumble bee

2008-08-02T11:59:00.001-07:00

A Closer Look At The Bumble Bee

The bumble bee is a hairy, round bee that most of us are familiar with. They have a distinctively deep buzz when they are lazily flying around your yard and garden. Some people often confuse the bumble bee with it’s cousin, the honey bee. There are, however, many differences that separate them. Below we will take a look at some of them.

Appearance

If you take the time to examine the bumble bee, you’ll find that it really looks nothing like a honey bee. The shape of a honey bee’s body is similar to that of a wasp, while the bumble bee has a round body. It is also known for it’s hairy or fuzzy appearance. Bumble bees are also usually black and yellow in color, similar to that of the carpenter bee. The two are often confused because of their appearance.

Other Differences

Bumble bees are similar to honey bees in that a hive will consist of a queen, female worker bees, and male drones, who are responsible for mating with the queen. They do produce honey, but in very small amounts, so they are not used for commercial honey production. Another similarity is that only the females possess stingers.

One other major difference is that the bumble bee is much less aggressive than the honey bee. They almost never sting people, unless they are directly threatened. If you do hear that loud, deep buzz of a bumble bee flying around your head, just wait a moment and they will move on. Trying to swat them away may make them think you are trying to attack them. These bees are only interested in collecting enough honey to raise their young. If you do not threaten them, they have no interest in harming you. Despite their sometimes intimidating appearance, they are really quite harmless.

They also tend to live in fairly small nests, which are usually in the ground. For this reason, they will not swarm like some other types of bees. Another interesting fact about the bumble bee is that they can thrive in colder climates than most bees. This is because of their furry bodies and the unique ability they have to regulate their body temperature.

Finally, these harmless pollinators are great to have living around your garden. They pose no threat to you and your family, and they are great for your flowers. If you do find them nesting on your property, you won’t regret letting them stay.

bees nest

2008-08-02T11:57:00.002-07:00

Controlling a Bees Nest

If you have a bees nest on your property then you may have concerns about the safety of your family, particularly if you have small children. Sometimes people confuse bees with wasps. Wasps have thinner bodies with a narrow waist, slim legs and bodies that are shiny and smooth in appearance.

Wasps can be very aggressive and you should be very careful if there is such a nest on your property. Bees on the other hand are much fatter and have hairy legs to help with collecting pollen. Bumblebees are not aggressive and as long as left alone they will not bother you.

Calling Professionals

Sometimes there is a need to call professionals when you are faced with the problem of a bees nest. It is uncommon for honeybees to make nests in your garden as usually these bees are bred and require manmade structures to nest. However a wild colony may find its way into your property.

Honeybees usually pose a problem, as they need someone who knows what they are doing to get rid of them. Although the problem can be handled with insecticides it is probably safer and easier to call a pest control company to come in and handle the problem.

Protected Species

In England bumblebees are a protected species and destroying a bees nest of this species can result in prosecution with heavy penalties. If you happen to live outside England and need to get rid of a bees nest of this variety then you can treat the problem with insecticides.

Insecticides to Use

Use insecticides that are meant for lawns and soil. The most successful use of insecticides when dealing with this type of bees nest are in dust form. Carbaryl and cholrpyrifos insecticides in dust form are good to use. You can put these insecticides in the opening of the nest and then cover the entrance of the nest with soil once you are sure that all the bees have died.

If you have wasps on your property then you need to be careful. Especially in late summer and fall when wasps can turn aggressive. The presence of wasps can disrupt picnics and other outdoor gatherings that involve food. Try and serve food just when people are ready to eat rather than laying it out. Put away food quickly and make sure your garbage can has a tight fitting lid. The best time to get rid of wasps is in winter when you can safely destroy the nest.

bees dying

2008-08-02T11:57:00.001-07:00

What Is The Cause For All The Bees Dying?

In the United States over the last couple of years bee populations have been decreasing at an alarming rate. The question is why are all the bees dying, or where are the going? If this is not a concern of your you need to realize how important bees are to the entire ecosystem. Albert Einstein said that if bees were wiped off the planet man would become instinct within four years. While this is a bit extreme, bees dying is an important issue to which the cause of must be discovered.

Finding Our What Bees Dying Is Caused By

Recent reports have suggested that bee populations in some areas are declining at rates of around 80%. This rate of bees dying should definitely set off some alarms and bring people around the world to action to help the bee population. The cause of all this is so far almost completely unknown although theories have been presented.

If you look at the overall numbers, bees dying has accounted for an overall drop of half of the number of beekeepers since 1980. Again the cause is not known although parasites have been ruled out. The thinking is that it is some kind of new toxin or possibly even genetically modified plants.

While the rate of bees dying in the US has been increasing, areas in Germany and Poland are reporting similar declines. What the studies have shown is the bees are not dying in the hive, but rather appear to be losing their sense of where the hive is and then dying outside in the wild. In addition to that the hives are not being raided for their resources by other insects and animals. This is a pretty clear indication that there is something wrong in the hive that requires investigating.

Another thing scientists have noted about the bees is that when they die they appear to be infected with several viruses, bacteria, and fungi. This is a pretty strong signal the immune system of the bees has collapsed and they are unable to cope with these normal toxins.

Right now what is most needed is for governmental organizations to wake up and look into what is causing this bee dying epidemic. Currently there is a huge outcry to prevent global warming, but all of that could be completely mute if we overlook this major issue. Bees dying are an important issue that I hope this article has made you aware of.

bees disappearing

2008-08-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

Causes of Bees Disappearing

Bees are natural propagators of many different plants. They are also our source of many food items which many commercial producers process for us. Bees disappearing recently have baffled many experts and theories abound regarding their disappearance. In spite of being so small, bees play a major role in our environment thus bees disappearing have caused some degree of alarm to many experts.

Honeybees are the propagator of choice for many farmers and they actively encourage bee hives in their farms as well as make hives for honeybees to live in. Not only will the farmers have honey to process but the crops that they cultivate will be propagated in a natural way.

Theories About Bees Disappearing

There are many different theories regarding bees disappearing. Some of the more realistic are pesticides that are being used to keep harmful insects away from crops that are cultivated by farmers and pollution affecting them. Many other theories are out regarding bees disappearing and many think that their disappearance should be a cause for alarm.

Other theories regarding bees disappearing have something to do with the transmission of cell phones as well as a virus that affects honeybees. The possibility of the cell phone signal interfering with the way that the bees navigate and get around can contribute to bees disappearing. A virus that affects the honeybees can also be the culprit regarding their disappearance as well as a fungus that has been around once before and nearly wiped out the entire honey bee population in the Americas.

Many other natural factors may be causing the disappearance of the honey bees. Some theorize that changes in weather conditions may have a say in the bees disappearing in many different places at the same time.

Whatever the cause of bees disappearing, the United States government, as well as that of Canada and some European nations affected by the disappearance of honeybees, are worried if the bees can bounce back from their decline. The many hives that have been left empty still contain food and bee larvae that need tending. If the disappearance of the honey bees continues none will be left to propagate the many crops that people and some animals depend on for food.

Bees disappearing are really a cause of alarm because this could be a signal that the world has undergone changes that are affecting some of the minor and major players of our food chain. Many believe that once they are wiped out from certain countries, there may be some difficulty bringing them back again.

bees

2008-08-02T11:55:00.003-07:00

How To Survive A Swarm Of Bees

Everyone knows what it's like to be stung by a bee, and usually it's not a big deal. But what do you do if you find yourself surrounded by a swarm of bees? This is a totally different situation than some minor pain and discomfort from a single sting. For some people, this type of situation can be potentially fatal. Let's take a look at some mistakes that people commonly make in this situation, and what you should do.

Things to Think About

When people find themselves surrounded by a swarm of bees, their first instinct is to begin swinging their arms around in an attempt to get the bees away. It may be difficult, but avoid doing this if at all possible. If they feel like you are trying to attack them, the bees will defend themselves by stinging you.

Another common mistake that people make is trying to stand still and hope the bees will go away. In most cases, this will probably not work. The reason they are swarming you may be related to the type of clothing or perfume that you have on. In this case, standing still will do you no good. They may not be trying to harm you, it may be that they are attracted to you scent. The correct thing to do in this situation is to run away from the bees and head for the indoors or jump in the water. Be careful not to run around in circles as this may provoke them into stinging you. Pick a destination, and run for it.

Another common mistake is to keep your face uncovered. When you begin running from the bees, cover your face as you go. Your face is probably the part of your body that they are focusing on, so this is where most of the stings usually occur.

Other Tips

If you are going to be in an area where swarming could occur, there are a few steps you can take to keep yourself safe. First, wear plenty of clothing. Make sure as much of your body is covered as possible. Another step you can take is to avoid wearing perfume. The scent may attract the bees to you. This is also true of brightly colored clothing. You may appear to them as a giant flower, and you do not want this.

The most important thing is to know exactly what you are going to do if you find yourself in this situation. Hopefully, this article has given you a starting point for that plan.

Bee Keeping Supplies

2008-08-02T11:55:00.001-07:00

Beekeeping Supplies For Hobbyists And Professionals

Beekeeping supplies include hive essentials, beekeeping tools, processing equipment, honey containers and labels. Many people run commercial apiaries today and keep a stock of all the beekeeping supplies that you need for beekeeping. There are several new products, both for people who are doing beekeeping as a hobby or as a business.

Hive Essentials

Hive Essentials are the first things that you need, when you are starting off with beekeeping. The bees and the queens are the most important beekeeping supplies along with the Beginner's and Hive Increase Kits. There are small hive frames and big ones, as well as polystyrene hives.

Bee feed and feeders and comb honey supplies belong to the beekeeping supplies too. Bee medications are essential and you need books to keep you informed about the bees. Hive wraps, gadgets and tools are some of the beekeeping tools along with galvanized hardware cloth and pollen traps. For the beekeeper, protective clothing is essential, and so are smokers.

Processing Honey And Wax

In order to process beeswax and honey it is necessary to include them in the beekeeping supplies. You can also have bee escapes and harvesting extractors and extracting tools as processing equipment. For the honey containers it is important to have bulk, glass and plastic containers for the liquid honey. Closures are vital and there should be labels for the various types of honey.

Honey Handling Equipment is also sold in various sizes in the stores which supply beekeeping supplies. Honey tanks and strainers which are suitable for various size buckets and honey warming cabinets are also available. A honey creaming machine and a hive clamp with strap is used for transportation.

Equipment for beeswax and foundation wax is some of the latest products of beekeeping supplies. There are many wood products, medications and treatment for bees and lots of beekeeping books and educational aids can be bought on websites.

Kits

Several kits are available as beekeeping supplies like the Bee-Ginners Kit or the Hive Starter Kit. The Bee-Ginners Kit provides the beginner with the basics of beekeeping supplies and it is only sold as a unit. The Hive Starter Kit is an assembled English Garden Hive which has eight frames. It includes a copper top, and two medium blocks with frames.

Buying Supplies

Most beekeeping supplies can be bought online, by choosing from huge catalogues and comparing price lists. You can even order on the phone. The products can be shipped to you, if it is within the country; delivery is within two to three days and about seven to ten days for delivery overseas.

Bee Keeping Equipment

2008-08-02T11:54:00.004-07:00

Basic Beekeeping Equipment And Accessories

There is a lot of beekeeping equipment available on various websites. These include beehives, beeswax sheets, protective clothing for beekeepers, honey extractors, bee smokers and many other apiary accessories.

Bee Hives

For bee keeping, the most important beekeeping equipment is the bee hive. It should be made of good quality wood, and Western Red Cedar is often used to make them. Some others use pine, which is relatively cheaper, but not as stable.

Cedar is the best choice for making bee hives, because it smells good and is beautiful to look at. Cedar has many natural oils and they make the wood stable. That is the reason why it does not warp even it is subjected to the worst weather.

Besides bee hives there is a lot of other beekeeping equipment which has to be acquired by the beekeeper. Honey jars, hive tools and accessories, jar labels and good beekeeping books are some of them.

Sometimes a fence may be necessary for your apiary if you want to keep your equipment safe from cattle and other animals. Let us therefore look at some of the most important things required in a list of beekeeping equipment. A basic set of equipment is required to run a unit and some objects are absolutely mandatory.

Basic Equipment
The most important beekeeping equipment is the smoker. If you make proper use of the smoker, it is possible to manage the hives, since the bees remain docile when you have the hive open. If you don't use a smoker, there is every chance of stings for the beekeeper as well as others nearby. It will also cause the colony to be more aggressive in the future.
The bee suits also helps you from not getting stung as you work with the hives. It keeps the honeybees from crawling into your clothes and masking your body odor. It also helps you to keep cooler if you are working in the direct sun. If your bee suit does not include a bee hat and a veil, you should acquire them too. They are critical in keeping bees away from your head and neck.
Hive Tools and gloves are handy gadgets to have as your beekeeping equipment. The tools come in various styles. The gloves prevent the bees from stinging your hands and keep them from crawling up inside your sleeves. A bee brush could also come in handy whenever you want to brush bees off things or off yourself.
Ankle and wrist straps are totally optional, but are nice to have if your bee suit or clothing does not provide them already. With these straps you can seal up your pant legs and sleeve cuffs to avoid bees from crawling in.
Probably a full body suit is ideal to provide excellent protection, comfort, convenience and durability. If it is properly sized and worn, the full body suit provides total sting protection when you are working the hives or dealing with other stinging insects like wasps and hornets.

bee keeping

2008-08-02T11:54:00.003-07:00

Thinking about Practicing the Art of Bee Keeping?

Some people collect rocks or shells as a hobby while others may find bungee jumping or fishing more suited to their tastes. There are millions of people around the world however that is abuzz about their particularly sweet hobby – bee keeping! Of course, bee keeping is not just a hobby; it can also be well-suited for a side job or even a full-time enterprise. The good news is that to start this buzzing practice, you do not need much money to get your start.

Considerations before Committing

Bee keeping can be a sweet and rewarding hobby or vocation but there are a few things to consider before making the commitment to raise bees. First of all, bee stings for apiarists (bee keepers) are commonplace so you should be sure that you and those who will assist you are not allergic. You will know an allergic reaction to a bee sting if you see it – swelling at the sting site, possible welts or rashes on the body, wheezing and swelling of air passageways.

While you may be able to handle most of the basics of bee keeping on your own, it is always helpful to have a partner help you with some of the chores. Heavy lifting is a particular problem when moving the hive boxes so having a helper could be a godsend, unless of course, you can handle the added burden.

Do the Research

Bee keeping is more than just tending to the hives … it is understanding that there are specific duties and activities that take place at distinct times throughout the year. Bee keeping duties wait for no man regardless of whether or not it is the deep cold winter or a sweltering summer. Apprentice with an apiarist or head to the library to check out as many books and resources as possible.

You must know the difference between the drones, queen bees and workers are in order to succeed in bee keeping as the roles of each are very important to the survival of the hive. Learn what the frames are for, why you smoke some hives out and how to harvest honey and the comb produced.

Luckily, bee keeping equipment is not costly nor is it very cumbersome in terms of maintenance but you must be diligent in your research to know what you must absolutely purchase. A bee smoker, a bee suit and veil and a hive tool are the minimum bee keeping requirements necessary to get the job done. However, rest assured there is more equipment in the bee keeping arsenal for winter protection as well as honey extraction. Your level of commitment as well as your knowledge and pocketbook will guide you in your new venture into bee keeping.

bee venom

2008-08-02T11:54:00.001-07:00

Medical Use of Bee Venom

Bee venom may seem like something scary and something you would like to avoid at all costs, but this may not be so. Bee venom is now as useful as honey, just as honey was commonly used for medicinal purposes; venom too has medicinal properties that can be useful to both humans and animals.

Bee venom has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, its not new at all; it’s just come back into vogue. It was used in ancient Egypt and during the middle ages it was used for joint ailments and it is still used in this manner today.

Scientific Research

The use of bee venom in treating ailments has not been extensively researched. At the moment it has been used for a variety of treatments but as yet there are no concrete scientific findings to back up the effectiveness of using bee venom in treating illnesses. However anecdotal experience would seem to suggest that it is most effective in treating arthritis.

Stinging

There are two ways that bee venom can be administered, the first is a ‘natural’ way and one that has been used in ancient time while the second is a more conventional way. The traditional method of administering bee venom is to use live bees to sting a person. This method can be painful and is not for the faint hearted.

The more conventional and less painful way is to have the venom injected via a syringe. This method relies on harvested bee venom. It is perhaps less scary and definitely an easier way to use venom therapy to treat whatever ailment you are experiencing.

Products

There are many products out there that contain bee venom, such as cream, ointments and even tablets. Usually you do not need a prescription for such products and they can be bought over the counter. Remember that this form of therapy usually falls under the alternative medicine category and naturopathy stores would be the best place to find these products.

Allergy

Some people are extremely allergic to bee stings and if you are one of those people then you cannot use this form of therapy. If you have never been stung by a bee or are unsure of your allergy status when it comes to bee stings then make sure that you consult a doctor before embarking on any treatment involving venom. The person administering the treatment should have a bee sting kit at the ready just in case.

bee swarm

2008-08-02T11:53:00.002-07:00

Why Bees Swarm

Every now and then, you hear about a bee swarm and wonder what makes them do it.

Disruptive Bee Swarms

In Little Rock, Arkansas, one spring, a swarm of bees estimated to be about 7,000 strong forced a hospital emergency room to shut down. A beekeeper was called to vacuum up the bees and take them away. The ER was closed to protect patients and visitors who might be allergic to bee stings, whether they know it or not.

In Redondo Beach, California, the Fire Department reported that it receives and responds to about 18 calls per month about bee swarms. The Fire Department will treat multiple bee sting injuries or people who are allergic to bee stings and have been stung, but they will not remove hives from private property. They advised residents to bee-proof their homes as a preventive measure by removing items bees can use for hives, like old tires, boxes, containers, and wood piles. Residents should never attack a bee swarm with a can of bug spray, as this will stir up the bees and make the situation even worse.

Why They Swarm

Beekeeper Harvey Johnston, who removed the beehive from the Little Rock hospital emergency room, says bees swarm because the hive gets overcrowded. The queen leaves the crowded hive, and a portion of the bees leave with her, all at once.

The Redondo Beach Fire Department, however, reports that bees also swarm to protect the location of their hives. The African bee, which is more aggressive than the European honey bee, is much more likely to swarm as a hive protecting measure, especially when the honeycomb is at its most productive.

Unfortunately, these bees respond to vibrations in the air up to 200 feet away from the hive, so they can be attracted by the sound waves from a lawnmower or chainsaw, or even an outdoor stereo system playing music at high volume.

What to Do When Bees Swarm

If you find yourself in the midst of a bee swarm, move calmly to the nearest indoor shelter. Take any pets indoors with you, as just a few bee stings can kill your beloved dog or cat. If you are outdoors without shelter but there is a river or lake nearby, get into the water, and take your pets with you.

Remember, most bees mean you no harm. Bees pollinate more than one-third of the food crops we need to survive as humans, and even more crops that feed non-human animals. They also produce honey and wax. Bees are not pests; they are valuable members of society.

bee stings

2008-08-02T11:53:00.001-07:00

Are You Allergic To Bee Stings?

Everyone is aware of the pain and discomfort that comes along with getting stung by a bee. For some people, however, this common occurrence can create much more than just a minor inconvenience. There are many people who have allergic reactions to bee stings. Some of these people may not even know that they have this problem until it’s too late. Here we will take a look at the symptoms of bee stings and compare them to what happens to someone who has an allergic reaction. This will help you identify signs that you may have a problem.

Common Bee Stings

Most of us have been stung by a bee at one time or another, so we are fairly familiar with the results. In addition to the initial pain of the sting itself, you can usually expect some swelling and redness, and even some itching. Usually, these stings are relatively harmless, though they will vary in intensity from one species to another. Even if left untreated, you probably will not have any additional problems.

Things To Watch For

When the symptoms you are experiencing go beyond the normal pain and swelling, it may be an indication that you have a problem. There are several symptoms that can indicate an allergic reaction to bee stings. Some are worse than others, and they will vary from person to person. This will also depend on the type of bee that stings you.

If you are allergic to a certain type of sting, you will usually notice symptoms within the first few minutes. Allergic symptoms will be something other than the usual pain and swelling. Some people will break out in hives when they are allergic to bee stings. Others will have intense itching or swelling of the tongue, which is a common symptom of several types of allergies. Some may even experience dizziness or fainting. This is dangerous because you are also at risk of injuring yourself if you fall down. In the most severe cases, a person may suffer from anaphylaxis, which could result in death.

Even though most symptoms will show up almost immediately, you should keep your eye open for these signs for up to twenty four hours. Sometimes the reaction will be delayed, but it is rare. The most important thing is to get treatment as soon as possible if you suspect an allergic reaction to bee stings. Initial treatment can begin at home, but you should get to a hospital as soon as you can. Give the doctor as much information as you can about the sting, including the type of bee it was, if possible.

bee sting treatment

2008-08-02T11:52:00.004-07:00

Effective Bee Sting Treatments

A bee sting can be deadly for those who have allergic reactions to it. Other than that there are many different kinds of bee sting treatments that a person can apply after being stung. There are many different kinds of bees and wasps that sting people, many of these insects have stings that can be retracted while some others leave their stingers on the people they sting.

Remedies For Stings

A bee sting treatment may not be needed especially if the person has little reaction to the sting. The usually reaction to a bee sting is reddening of the skin and some localized pain in the direct area of the sting. Other symptoms that may require bee sting treatment are swelling and some itching. The bee sting treatment for swelling is to actually apply a cold compress over the area. This reduces the swelling in the area as well as neutralizes the effects of some stings. Some localize reactions to a bee sting can last for up to several days especially the pain around the area. Bee sting treatment for localized pain is applying cold compresses.

Taking out the stinger, if there is one left can also help ease the pain and reduce the amount of poison left by the honeybee. Another bee sting treatment is to clean the area with water and soap to get rid of any poison left in the affected area. Make sure that the stinger is already taken out of the stung area before you clean it.

Some people who have some slight allergic reactions to the sting can take Benadryl as a bee sting treatment. This bee sting treatment can also lessen the risk of more serious symptoms of bee stings, especially for those who may have some slight allergic reactions. For those who have serious reactions, the best bee sting treatment is to go to the emergency room and explain the situation. Some people die because they do not get the right bee sting treatment on time. If you have a history of severe allergic reactions to insect bites, take no chances and proceed to the emergency ward.

Getting the right bee sting treatment on time can actually save lives. Knowing what to do in case you get stung can be a life saver. It is not only bees that you have to be cautious with when you have severe reaction to insect bites. Almost all kinds of insects that bite or sting can cause a severe allergic reaction.

bee sting remedy

2008-08-02T11:52:00.003-07:00

Honey Bee Sting Remedies

Getting stung by a honey bee is something that will probably happen to all of us during our lifetime. The stings from honey bees can be very painful, and therefore are an object of dread for humans. So when it happens to you, are you going to be prepared with a bee sting remedy?

Bee Sting Remedy – When and Why They Sting

A honeybee that is away from the hive, foraging for nectar or pollen, will rarely sting, except when stepped on or roughly handled. Honeybees will actively seek out and sting when they perceive the hive to be threatened, oftentimes being alerted to this by the release of attack pheromones.

Bee Sting Remedy – How Many Times Can It Sting You?

Many people believe that a worker honey bee can sting only once, but this is a partial misconception. The stinger is in fact barbed so that it lodges in the victim's skin, tearing loose from the bee's abdomen and leading to its death in minutes. The honey bee dies only if the victim is a mammal (or bird).

The bee's stinger evolved originally for inter-bee combat between members of different hives, and the barbs evolved later as an anti-mammal defense.

Bee Sting Remedy – Injection Of Apitoxin

Honey bees are the only hymenoptera with a barbed stinger. The stinger's injection of apitoxin into the victim is accomplished by the release of alarm pheromones, a process which is accelerated if the bee is fatally injured. Release of alarm pheromones near a hive or swarm may attract other bees to the location, where they likewise will demonstrate defensive behavior until there is no longer a threat.

Bee Sting Remedy - Anaphylaxis

About 3% of people that get stung by a honey bee have an allergic reaction to the sting, and about 0.8% of these victims experience the severe and life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. Most people will only have a localized reaction to a bee sting, the skin is reddened and painful. Swelling and itching are likely to occur, but the pain usually disappears over a few hours.

In a systemic allergic reaction, the entire body is affected. The victims may develop hives, redness, or swelling at sites on the body away from the site of the sting.

In anaphylactic reactions, victims experience wheezing, difficulty breathing, and a drop in blood pressure that leads to shock if not treated promptly.

Bee Sting Remedy – Remove The Stinger

Look for a small black dot at the sting site and remove it immediately. The honey bee venom sack, which remains in the skin of the victim, can take 2-3 minutes to release all of its venom, so prompt removal of the stinger can reduce the severity of the sting.

Apply ice or cold packs to the area to reduce the body's inflammatory response. Clean the area with soap and water, then apply hydrocortisone cream to the site to decrease the reaction.

Bee Sting Remedy – Alternate Treatments

Alternative treatments include a paste made of unseasoned meat tenderizer and water or a paste of baking soda and water. Taking an antihistamine in tablet form can also provide relief.

bee species

2008-08-02T11:52:00.001-07:00

Different Bee Species

There are actually quite a few different bee species out there in the world these days, and in fact there exist nearly 20,000 types of bees which can be recognized by observing the type of hive they have, the social characteristics they portray, their behavior and other key features.

Bumblebees

One of the most common and well known bee species is the bumblebee. They are large and hairy, and generally colored yellow and black. The colonies can flourish for many years if they are in the right environment, which would be tropical areas.

They typically live in deserted holes that have been made and left by rodents and other small animals, and they can thrive in temperate areas in North America.

Carpenter Bees

Another bee species that most people are aware of is the carpenter bee. These bees have metal-like, black color and no yellow marks, which is the most distinguishing feature between these bees and bumblebees.

They are unable to prepare wax, which is another very noticeable difference, and from flower to flower they can travel quite long distances.

Honeybees

Everyone has seen the next bee species before – the honeybee. These bees are quite small in size, and they are generally black but often other colors as well, such as a brown yellow. These bees are very social and have a queen bee who they work to protect and serve.

The job of the bees is to collect nectar from flowers and then store the honey, feed the hive, and make sure that the queen bee is safe and well protected.

Parasitic Bees

One bee species that many people have not heard of is the parasitic bee species. These bees do not search for food or build nests on their own, but rather use the nests and food of other bees. The reasons for this are unknown, but they can definitely be a threat in that they are stealing the food and homes of other bees.

The eggs or larvae of the host female are killed by the parasitic female or her larvae, and females of parasitic bees do not have pollen brushes or pollen baskets.
Digger Bees

There are also the digger bees, which are bees that have long tongues and which fly very fast. This is one of the most distinguishable features between these and other bees, and they are considered as being part of the digger bee family.

These are just a few of different species of bee that exists, and there are quite a few more that anyone interested in learning about bees would want to be aware of.

bee removal

2008-08-02T11:51:00.002-07:00

Best Methods For Bee Removal

While for the most part bees are not a threatening menace, in some cases the situation can become so bad that you need to look into bee removal. This article will discuss some of the best ways to go about bee removal from both a cost and safety perspective.

Deciding On The Best Method For Bee Removal

When trying to remove a honey bee colony it is important to try to salvage as much of the colony as possible. However sometimes bee removal of the colony intact is not practical. In those cases most people will choose to exterminate the bees by injecting a powerful pesticide. If this is the case make sure that the bees have not had time to construct a significant comb. The reason for this is because if you exterminate the bees with pesticide and they have a large or even decent amount of honey within the comb, other bees will be attracted to it. They will then take the poisoned honey back to their colony causing unnecessary destruction

One way to prevent this in the bee removal is to caulk or screen off all of the potential entrances to the hive in the wall cavity. In addition this will prevent another colony from moving in and colonize that spot in the future.

In addition another negative of this bee removal method is that it leaves behind a lot of dead bees and honey. The combination of these two things is very attractive to mice, ants, moths and many other creatures. They can be more damaging and difficult to control than the original bee problem so be sure that you know what you are getting into before taking any drastic steps.

The preferred method for bee removal is trapping. This method is very difficult and can be extremely time consuming. In addition to that it requires a strong attention to detail to be done correctly and if mistakes are made it can ruin the entire process.

The idea behind trapping is to set up a device on a singular exit from the main hive. This has to be the only exit and it is very important that you get it set up correctly. Next you need to place a one way cone in front of the entrance.

After that has been set up a hive body with a new queen is placed near the entrance. Bees leaving the hive and returning will be unable to get back into the main hive. Eventually these foraging bees will join the adjacent hive. As the internal colony weakens, the external colony will get stronger.

Eventually the outside colony will take over the main one and can then be safely removed.

bee population

2008-08-02T11:51:00.001-07:00

Factors To A Declining Bee Population

The honey bee population of the United States of America is one the decline. In the past year, many bee farmers have noticed more and more abandoned bee hives compared to all other past years. Death of some of the bee population is to be expected during the winter season but there are actually not a lot of dead bee bodies found in the abandoned hives to warrant the season as one of the killers of some of the bee population in the Unite States of America.

The decline of the bee population of late has caused a major furor because many of the farmers who grow crops and other plants are mostly dependent on the honey bee population for the propagation of their crops and plants. The honey bee population of the United States is responsible for almost 80 % of the natural propagation of the country's crops and plants.

Pesticides

Many fingers are pointing at chemical pesticides as one of the culprits to the declining bee population in the United States. Pesticides affect all insects and pests that come into contact with it. Thus, even the potentially helpful insects are eliminated when farmers use chemical pesticides to control all forms of pests in their crops. Pesticides are needed by some farmers due to other potentially harmful insects that destroy crops yearly.

Disease Or Fungus

There are also reports of some disease or virus that may be responsible for the decline of the honey bee population in the United States. In the past decades, similar reports of a decline in the population have prompted experts and researchers to probe the reason. A fungus or virus has been identified to have affected some colonies of honey bees and have been spread by some of the infected bees being adopted into other hives.

Weather

The winter season has always affected the bee population. An especially harsh winter will have more drastic effects. The reason why some experts doubt the theory of harsh winters affecting the bee population drastically is that there are not a lot of dead bees in the hive during the winter season. Evidence that the cold has something to do with the bee population decline is not seen.

Experts are still confused and baffled regarding the abrupt decrease of the bee population in the United States and some parts of Canada and Europe. If this decline of the bee population shall continue, you can expect the bees to be gone for good.

bee pollen

2008-08-02T11:50:00.002-07:00

The Wonders of Bee Pollen

Within the latter half of the past century, bee pollen has become known as a miracle food, restorative in its properties and therapeutic in a variety of forms from powder to capsules. This bee pollen is rich in vitamins and minerals that are essential to a health life such as calcium, thiamin, manganese, zinc and vitamins K, A, B, E, C and D. Proteins, important amino acids, carotenoids, unsaturated fatty acids and essential oils also count in this type of pollen.

What Exactly is It?

Now that you know what bee pollen has in it, you should know that this pollen is not produced by the bee itself. Instead, it is the granules of pollen that are collected from the bees and become stuck on their legs and other body parts as they flit from flower to flower. Because the alternative health medicine market is the primary way people get a hold of this bee pollen, it must be manually collected by bee keepers.

Apiarists (bee keepers) install scrapers to the hive so that when the bees re-enter the hive, their legs and bodies must brush up against them. The bees collect the pollen using their bodies and legs and then store it in special pouches that are stored behind their legs. When they brush up against the scrapers, this pollen is captured and stored by the bee keepers until there is enough to harvest for medicinal purposes.

Great Health Benefits

One of the most important benefits of bee pollen is that it works as a great re-energizer for the body and works basically by replenishing some of the vitamins and minerals your body lacks. For this rejuvenating reason, some people liken this pollen collected from bees to the Fountain of Youth. Many researchers and scientists believe that the bee pollen could be used to slow down the body's aging process, extending life by several more years and helping keep a more youthful appearance.

You could benefit greatly from bee pollen if you were seeking a boost to your weight loss goals, particularly if you have reached a plateau and need help getting over it. This pollen collected from bees helps people with a chemical imbalance that has had trouble metabolizing and burning fat. In fact, bee pollen has been known to boost metabolism and help flush fat from your body and lower your biological cravings for fatty foods.

Improved mental clarity, a better sex life, fewer allergies, lower stress and an improved immune system have all been attributed to the consumption of bee pollen. Because of its many medicinal, healing properties, bee pollen has become a popular staple in the organic and alternate health medicine scene.

Bee Keeping

2008-08-02T11:50:00.001-07:00

Bee Keeping As Business Or Fun

Bee Keeping is the practice of maintaining honey bee colonies in hives. A beekeeper is also called an apiarist and he keeps bees so that he can collect honey and beeswax. Sometimes beekeepers keep bees for sale to other beekeepers. The place where Bee Keeping is done is called an apiary.

Hobby

Since honey bees are one of the most popular and economically beneficial insects they are commonly kept in apiaries in the United States. Though many beekeepers make a living by Bee Keeping, most of them are hobbyists. They just have a few hives and are simply fascinated by these insects and enjoy working with them.

Castes Of Honey Bees

There are basically three castes of honey bees, the workers, the drones and the queen bees. The workers basically do all the work of the colony of bees, and a colony may have as many as sixty thousand workers. The drones are the male bees and they fly from the hive and mate in the air with queens from other colonies. The queen is a fully fertile female specialized for producing eggs.

Site For Hives

It is easy to keep honey bees anywhere, where there are flowering plants which produce nectar and pollen. For Bee Keeping the site to be chosen should be sheltered from winds and it is better if it is partly shaded. It is advisable to avoid low spots in a yard, where the air is cold and damp in winter.

You have to be considerate towards your non- Bee Keeping neighbors. Your hives should not be where the bee flight paths cross sidewalks, playgrounds or other public areas. Give your bees a water source in your yard so that the bees are not attracted towards swimming pools.

Equipment

Use traditional equipment for Bee Keeping. You can buy it ready made from many Bee Keeping Equipment dealers either from shops or from websites. If you make your own bee hives, you must reproduce the dimensions exactly. There are many compartments and covers which follow a definite pattern. Use good oil base paint for exterior wooden parts.

How To Start

To start off with your Bee Keeping, it is easiest to buy two established colonies from a known local beekeeper. Another way is to buy packaged bees and queens and transfer them into new equipment. A third possibility is by finding and installing swarms.

Honey

Honey Bee management is not an easy task. The management is generally based on natural nectar flows. Beekeepers want their colonies to reach maximum strength before the nectar flows begin. In this way, the bees store the honey as surplus which can be harvested by the beekeeper.

Processing honey is the result of the Bee Keeping process. The hobbyist has to invest in the honey extracting equipment, because it is specialized. Sometimes used equipment is also available. The amount of honey that is produced shows the fruits of good Bee Keeping.

bee keeper

2008-08-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

How to Become a Bee Keeper

The process of becoming a bee keeper is really not all that difficult, and it can also be very financially rewarding. By becoming a bee keeper you will not only be doing what you love – if that is what you enjoy – but as well you will be doing good for the world around you because without bees, we would have a lot fewer food sources.

The First Step

Anyone who is interested in becoming a bee keeper should first find out if they are allergic to bee stings. You can still go ahead and learn about bee keeping if you are allergic, but of course you are going to have to take special precautions and be much more careful when you are dealing with the bees.

Suit Up

You are also going to have to make sure that you have all the right equipment if you want to become a bee keeper, and more than anything this refers to a bee suit. There are many forms of protective clothing on the market that you can choose to use here, and a full bee suit is the ideal acquisition but the prices are fairly steep so if you are just starting off or are otherwise strapped for cash you may just want to stick to some more basic clothing.

You should be wary of any veils that slip over the head, because bees are invariably going to find a way to get around it and gain access to your neck and face, which can be very dangerous. You should always dress in light colors, and this is for a few different reasons. For one, you will be able to spot bees easier if they do manage to get through, and for another because light colors are less likely to generate static.

Gloves are also going to be very important here, and whenever you are handling bees you should be wearing proper gloves that are tucked into a long-sleeved shirt so that bees have no way to gain entry to your arm or get up your shirt sleeve.

Learn About the Bees

The next crucial step in becoming a bee keeper is to learn about the different species of bees, how they nest, what their hives are like, about their personal characteristics, and so on. There are many different types of hives available around the world, and the best idea is to select a specific hive type to learn about first, to make it easier on yourself.

bee house

2008-08-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

Making a Simple Bee House

A nest of bees is a natural way to pollinate garden plants. Bees are very useful insects to have in the garden and providing them with a simple homemade bee house can be beneficial for you and your garden. If you are committed to an organic style of gardening then a homemade bee house is the perfect tool to make your gardening more eco friendly.

You can of course buy the same thing at a home gardening store but it costs more. Depending on the type of bee you want to attract there are different types of houses you can create. You will probably find the materials around your house quite readily.

Orchard Mason Bees

If you want to make a bee house for orchard mason bees then the process is very simple. You will need untreated softwood such as cedar, fir or redwood. Take a piece that is maybe about four by four inches large and drill holes in the wood.

You want to drill holes that are about 3 and half inches deep and maybe a half-inch wide. The holes shouldn’t go all the way through the wood. If you feel birds might be a threat to your bee house then cover the wood with chicken wire. Now fix your bee house to your house in southerly direction. You can also fix it to trees or fence posts.

Bumblebee Houses

A bee house for bumblebee is completely different but similarly easy to make. All you need is a large coffee can with a plastic snap on lid. Take a piece of corrugated cardboard and cut it so that it fits snugly around the sides of the coffee can. As long as you cut it so that it fits nicely in the can there is no need to glue it to the can.

You will also need cardboard pieces to fit the top and bottom of the bee house. Cut a hole that’s about three quarters of an inch wide in the piece of cardboard at the mouth of the can. Cut a piece of window screen or chicken mesh to cover the mouth and cut a hole in the wire to correspond with the hole in the cardboard.

Before placing the top on you want to drill holes about an eight of an inch wide in the back of the can and on the side of the can that will be the bottom (the can will be mounted so that it lies horizontally). This gives the bee house good ventilation.

You also need to fill the bee house with some type of fibrous material until it is a third of half full. Wool, an old bird’s nest, animal hair or fiberglass insulation are good to use. Avoid using cotton wool or surgical wool as it is too fine and the bees will become trapped in it. Now mount your bee house in a place sheltered from rain and you’re good to go.

bee hive

2008-08-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

Structure Of A Bee Hive

A bee hive is a complex home generally used by honey bees. This article is going to take a look at both artificial and natural bee hives so you can better understand their purpose and structure.

Contents of a Bee Hive

In the natural world bees inhabit many different areas. This can include caves, rock cavities and hollow trees. Some bees will make exposed aerial combs as well, but the most common kind are bee hives inside other structures.

These nests are composed of honeycombs lade out parallel to each in a uniform pattern. In addition the nest usually well contain only one single entrance, however in times of stress this can be changed. Bee hives are created for the purpose of the hive is to produce honey, birth the young, and be the basic home base of the bees.

In the wild the nest architecture is always the same. Honey is stored in the upper part of the comb, beneath that are rows of pollen storage cells, worker brood cells, and drone brood cells. Below that are the peanut shaped queen cells.

Artificial bee hives go back to at least 900 B.C. and probably before that. There does exist physical evidence supporting the fact that bee hives were present at that time. These hives provided and enclosure for the bee colony and little else. Harvest from this type of hive generally destroyed it, although there were some adaptations with extra top baskets which could be removed when bees filled them with honey.

The modern bee hive frame still holds to its traditional roots but has been significantly upgraded. The Langstroth hive is a good example of this. His designed was presented in 1860 and today has become the standard style hive for 75% of beekeepers. His hive makes clever use of the normal tendencies of the bee so that the honey can be easily extracted and the hives easily moved.

There are six main parts to the modern bee hive. The first is the bottom board. This part forms the bottom of the hive and has an entrance for the bees to get in and out. Next is the brood box. This is the very bottom of the hive and is the part where the queen lays her larva. Above that is the honey super which is very similar to the brood box except that honey is stored here. The next important part is the frames and foundation which is a wooden frame and plastic sheet where bees put wax honey combs. The last part is the inner and outer cover, which are exactly what the name implies.

Hopefully this article has helped you to understand a bit more about how a bee hive works.

bee colony

2008-08-02T11:40:00.004-07:00

Bee Colonies – Nature's Social Network

A bee colony is truly a marvel. It is a delicate social infrastructure whose complexity rivals the "have your assistant call my assistant" hierarchical structure of Hollywood deal-making.

The Queen

In a bee colony, the queen bee is queen because she is the only female capable of reproduction. Without her, the hive will die. There is only one queen in every bee colony, with two notable exceptions. Whenever the colony is preparing to swarm, more than one queen will be present as neighboring colonies gather to form a huge mass of bees. Also, when the queen is ready to pass her crown on to the next queen, a second reproductive female will be present in the bee colony.

Some bee colonies are queenless. They go happily about their honey-making work, but when they die at the end of their natural life spans, the colony dies out, in spite of a few worker bees who try to lay eggs. A colony with a queen can continue for several generations.

The Drones

A drone is, quite simply, a ladies man. The purpose of his brief existence is to mate with the queen. He usually takes his first flights when he is eight days old, leaving the bee colony to fly around outside, but the work of gathering pollen is beneath him. During his entire lifetime, he is fed inside the hive by worker bees—and he eats three times as much as the workers!

He becomes sexually mature at twelve days of age, and he perishes instantly upon mating. Oddly enough, he is only attracted to the queen at heights of over 20 feet, which is why hives are often built high in trees or along the eaves of a two-story building. Drones who do not mate are forced out of the hive when honey stops flowing in cold weather. They starve and freeze to death outside.

In Queen less colonies, however, drones are welcome to stay as long as they want, in spite of the stress they place on the colony because of their voracious appetites. For that reason, they are though to be the most charismatic of the bees, and the morale and temperament of bees in a hive with drones is though to be more pleasant because of them.

The Workers

The lowest rung of the social network of the bee colony is the worker, yet this is the largest and most important class of bee of all. All labor related to the hive is performed by workers, who are sexually undeveloped female bees. They ventilate the hive, guard the entrance, gather pollen and sap to make honey, keep the hive clean, feed the drones, care for the queen, build honeycombs, and guard the entrance to the hive. Workers live for about six weeks during the summer months, although those whose lives begin during the fall may live through to the next spring before they develop fully.

bee balm

2008-08-02T11:40:00.003-07:00

What Is Bee Balm?

Bee balm is incredibly useful herb whose species name is Mindarda didyma. While it is called bee balm, bees actually have a very difficult time getting to the nectar. The most common creatures attracted by bee balm are Hummingbirds. This article is going to take a look at some of the myths and origins of bee balm.

Bee Balm As Medicine

Bee balm has a long history of use as medicine by Native Americans. They believed that the plant was a strong cure for skin infections and minor wounds. It is true that the plant does posses strong antiseptic action. In addition it can be brewed into a tea that is used to treat throat infections as well as gingivitis and other dental conditions. Bee balm is the natural source of Thymol, the main ingredient in modern mouthwash.

The plant is fairly common and can be found throughout most of North America in most meadows and hillsides. It does not do well in extreme elevations, but will survive up to about five thousand feet.

The tea brewed with this plant was used by native peoples across the Americas for treatments of infections and illness. Its bitter flavor takes a little bit to get used to, but it does have a strong effect when used properly.

Bee Balm As Food

Bee balm has a very strong flavor similar to oregano. It can be used to brew teas and many times has been planted with tomatoes with some reports of positive effects on the flavor. While human consumption does happen with this plant, the biggest feeder on it are Hummingbirds.

Reports and studies link this plant very strongly with Hummingbirds. Many reports say that this is among if is their favorite to eat. If you are looking to attract Hummingbirds to your home, this is a great plant to grow as the birds will come flocking.

The plant is hardy and survives very well throughout the year and with other plants. It can be found most places in the US and has no major problems growing in difficult climates. Placing this plant with tomatoes or other vegetable garden plants can add a colorful addition to a normally bland garden.

With both the health and wildlife benefits of this plan it is plain to see that it has a place in most gardens. If you are looking to attract Hummingbirds or are looking to grow your own natural healthy herbs, than this is a good plant for you.

band of bees

2008-08-02T11:40:00.001-07:00

Keeping Your Band of Bees Happy

Beekeeping is a hobby that can be carried out even with a very small garden area. It’s a wonderful way to feel connected to nature even when you live in an urban area. You might want to clear your hobby with neighbors first; it might be a little startling for them to find a band of bees in your garden one morning.

There are a few things you should know and have on hand before you start beekeeping to keep your band of bees happy. It will take some time for you to master the art but once you have you will find that it is an enjoyable hobby that can even be profitable.

Gear

The protective gear that all beekeepers wear is essential to not getting stung. Although over time you will find that beekeeping does not mean continually bee stings. You should not wear wool, as the bees will stick easily to your clothes. You should also wear white coveralls or other light colored clothes. There should be no spaces for bees to crawl into, so rubber band the sleeves of your clothes and tuck your pant legs into your socks.

The veils that are stereotypical of beekeepers are also recommended when tending to your band of bees. If you have been stung before then don’t wear the clothes you were wearing again until they have been washed. There is pheromone that bees release after stinging and they will perceive you as a threat that needs to be stung again.

Buying Bees

You can now easily buy a band of bees from a beekeeper in your area. The advantage of procuring a band of bees this way is that you will be able to get a hive as well. Another way is to order a nucleus of bees. The third option is to capture a wild swarm. This can be tricky but is not that difficult. If you have never handled bees before then ordering specific bees is probably the best way to get started.

Spring Work

Your bees can survive a winter but you may find that they lack enough food in the spring. If there are not enough flowers in bloom in the spring then you need to provide it for your bees. You can do this by leaving out sugar or honey syrup. Pollen or pollen substitute is also important to keep your bee colony healthy and happy. This will ensure that you can harvest plenty of honey in the summer.

baby bumble bee

2008-08-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

The Life of A Baby Bumble Bee

Bumble bees are highly similar tot heir cousins the honeybees. The life of a baby bumble bee starts similarly with that of a baby honeybee as well. Supposedly, in the Americas, the life span of the bumble bee usually covers a little over a year. By the time winter comes, most of the bumble bees die. Those that survive are usually the queen candidates. These over winter queens go their own ways to create their own colonies as the seasons change.

The Bumble Bee Colony

Initially it is the queen who starts to construct the hive for the future of the baby bumble bees. She prepares the wax pots for the food and the wax cells to lay an egg which each contains a baby bumble bee. The transition from bumble bee larvae to a baby bumble bee and to the adult bee may take up to five weeks. During this time, the baby bumble bee does not leave the hide and is cared for initially by the queen.

As the population of the colony grows, the queen ceases to make the cells for the upcoming baby bumble bees and concentrates more on laying eggs. The older bumble bees now take over the job of foraging for the colony and taking care of the other baby bumble bees. The baby bumble bee is well cared for and fed by the other workers of the colony. As larvae, they stay inside their cells and are fed throughout the day. As they pupate to become insects, they are waited on hand and foot by the other worker bumble bees.

The queen bumble bee controls the production of males and females in the colony. She can be aggressive and can drive out potential queens as well as some males. The life span of the baby bumble bee is short enough, although, in the tropics, some species of bumble bees can live years.

Although, bumble bees are similar to honeybees, their honey is rarely sought after by humans. This is mainly because they do not store as much food as the honeybees. This leads to food shortages for bumble bees but since they are not picky eaters, they often resolve the shortage.

The baby bumble bee has a long way to go and can be anything from a worker bee to a male or female bee. The baby bumble bee is initially laid by the queen to serve the colony as worker bees or as forager bees.