Here’s the buzz on Seminole County’s Honeybees
The Seminole Area Beekeeping Club will meet Thursday, March 16th at 6 p.m. in the APGG conference room. The meeting is open to the public and will cover the topics of maintenance, management, swarm control, and queen replacement. For additional information email seminoleareabeekeepers@gmail.com
It’s that time of year again! The bees are brooding up to get into production mode and soon their hives will be full of workers. Swarming happens this time of year as the colony runs out of room and the hive becomes overcrowded. Approximately half the bees gorge themselves, then take about half the resources and the old queen and leave the hive to go find a new home. If you’ve never seen a cloud of bees in the air, it is truly something to behold.
Most people don’t know that bees have two types of reproduction. Individual bees emerge after being babies for 21 days, but the colony of bees as a whole reproduces itself on a much larger scale. This is what we in the beekeeping community call a “swarm”.
Often they will land on a branch and a few scout bees will search for a new nest site. In a truly democratic fashion, they will advertise the new location to the cluster, and those scouts will go see if they think it is suitable. Once they all agree, they take to the air again and move to the decided location. Often this can be in our homes! Sometimes a crack in a wall provides just the right entrance size and the wall cavity is just the right size such that they deem it worthy.
It would be wise to do a quick walk around your house to identify any cracks or holes where the bees can get in and establish. A little caulk or foam can go a long way in saving you the headache of dealing with the situation and will save the bees from being exterminated by your pest professional.
Other cavities of note are old tanks or grills that have not been used in a good while. Honeybees can take up residence in old cardboard boxes in a shed, and under a recently washed, upturned trash can. They will literally make a home anywhere that the conditions are good enough.
Before they move in, they will hang out somewhere, such as a branch or under a mailbox. If you see a swarm of bees, be excited, but not afraid. Most swarms are docile as they have no home to protect. Bees mostly sting to protect their home and they only get one shot. Once a bee stings, it will die because the sting has a barb, not unlike that of a fish hook. It becomes lodged in the skin and as the bee leaves, the stinger and part of the abdomen are left behind to cause you grief. The best course of action is to contact the local bee club or any keeper you know to come catch them and give them a home and the heartfelt care our pollinating friends deserve.
Join the Seminole Area Beekeeping Club
There are many reasons why someone may want to join a local bee club. The first reason is a club is the best way to get an introduction to beekeeping. Most clubs have a range of members from novice to professional beekeepers. Some people have hundreds of hives and some have none. You can learn about how to get started and where to get bees. The experience of a club can help you make management decisions and identify problems and prevent them.
Along with the experience a bee club naturally has from its members, they often have guest speakers as well. Guest speakers can vary from professors at major universities to local commercial beekeepers. This information is often only presented in this format and is a wealth of knowledge. Having access to research and practices you cannot find in a book is priceless. Often the programming of a bee club will be centered around the season for bees.
Lastly, a bee club has many little perks that may not be obvious. Many clubs can make bulk order for equipment and bees to save everyone some money. Some hobbyist beekeepers will share extractors and other equipment too. It also gives those without bees an opportunity to work with bees. During the harvest season it is possible to help other beekeepers so you can gain experience and learn. Having experience and help are two things that can make or break a new beekeeper.
The Seminole Area Beekeeping Club will meet Thursday, March 16th at 6 p.m. in the APGG conference room. The meeting is open to the public and will cover the topics of maintenance, management, swarm control, and queen replacement. For additional information email seminoleareabeekeepers@gmail.com
