Beekeeping

Knowledge about bee biology is key to successful beekeeping. A bee colony has three types of bees: two female castes (a single queen and many workers), and a male bee

Honey bees can be an important source of nutritional or medicinal products, and/or income. Honey is the main product from honey bee keeping, providing dietary carbohydrate (sugar) and a variety

Bees maintained with modern culture methods in manmade hives readily produce harvestable amounts of honey and other bee products. Beekeepers looking to establish and build local markets for their products

Basic equipment for commercial beekeeping consists of wooden boxes to house the bee colony, with a special base giving bees an area for entry and exit. Inside these boxes, wooden

Bee colony life history is an annual cycle that syncs with bee forage resources. During the rainy season, colonies are smallest; at this time, beekeepers may supplement with sugar feeding.

Swarming is a natural behavior of honey bees. Bees swarm as they outgrow their existing homesite. A swarm consists of a single queen and a large population of workers who

Bees sting to defend their nest and themselves when disturbed. Beekeeping requires perseverance — and tolerance to stings. Using personal protective equipment and a smoker will help, but beekeepers may

Bee and nest pests, along with disease-causing pathogens, seek bee products such as honey and beeswax as a resource. Food reserves, the bees themselves and their nests, all attract a