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Understanding Honey Bees and How They Relate to Public Works

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Understanding Honey Bees and How They Relate to Public Works And how they relate to public works Brief history of beekeeping The modern beehive All about honey bees Pollination and honey bee diet Products of the honey bee hive Challenges facing honey bees today 1622 first hives brought to America Brought for honey, not pollination Expanded westward with settlers The Skep Millions of Hives in the United States 6,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 - 1947 1970 1990 2015 Langstroth considered father of modern beekeeping Building upon others, recognized "bee space" Developed the system of boxes and frames Image Source: sonomabees.org Image Source: orkin.com Colony ◦ Queen ◦ Worker ◦ Drone Image source: ag.arizona.edu Mature female Lays up to 2,000 eggs a day Lives the longest Larger than other bees Has stinger, but only uses it to kill other queens Rarely actually ever leaves the hive Image source: typesofbees.info Undeveloped females Up to 60,000 workers in a strong hive Workers...work ◦ Collect food and water ◦ Build wax comb ◦ Clean the hive ◦ Maintain temperature ◦ Guard the hive Image source: www.thewarrestore.com Male bees of the colony Sole purpose is to mate with virgin queens Do this once and die Anatomy is developed to do this - largest head with best vision Drones only carry queen genetics When winter comes, workers give them the boot Image source: typesofbees.info Image Source: SciLogs Pollinators ◦ Blueberries and cherries are 90% dependent honey bees ◦ Almonds100% ◦ 1/6th of the world’s flowing plants depend on bees ◦ Over $14 billion to the value of U.S. crop production Source: American Beekeeping Federation Proteins, vitamins, and minerals ◦ Pollen Carbohydrates ◦ Nectar Water ◦ Any local source Water ◦ Drinking ◦ Food processing ◦ Air conditioning Pollen ◦ Over 55 pounds of pollen collected in a year ◦ Pollen is produced by plants for reproduction Bees transfer pollen from the stamen to the stigma of a flower as it gathers pollen Nectar ◦ A large hive will consume almost 700 pounds of nectar per year. ◦ Use their proboscis to suck up and store nectar in their crop for the trip back to the hive ◦ At the hive the worker bee transfers the nectar to a house bee who deposits it into a cell ◦ Fan the nectar and reduce water content to about 18% Consider: ◦ Developing a pollinator friendly planting program Roadsides, parks, open space ◦ Educate the public on the benefits of “weeds” Swamp Milkweed, Sunflowers, Black-eyed Susans, Golden Rods, Asters, etc ◦ Mow less often! ◦ Bee creative – how about developing a “Honey Bee Park” Propolis Honey & Pollen Wax Royal jelly "Propolis in beehives" by user:Abalg - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Propolis_in_beehives.jpg#/media/File:Prop olis_in_beehives.jpg Image Source: Cookeville beekeepers / Tonylink Image Source: USDA Neonicotinoids protect crops from pests, such as whiteflies, beetles and termites European Union Actions The Science Consider: ◦ Developing a relationship with local beekeepers ◦ Notify beekeepers of spraying, add an opt out program without additional burdens ◦ Minimize the use of pesticides ◦ Follow the product label directions and interpret the wording. Is it the correct one for the job? Does it include the statement “This product is highly toxic to honeybees” Mix to the proper concentration Avoid systemic pesticides (neonicotinoids) Will you get stung? ◦ Yes!!!! But you can dress for success. ◦ Bee veil ◦ Jacket ◦ Gloves Smoker Hive tool Bee brush Frame rest …and anything else Smoker Hive tool Bee brush Frame rest …and anything else Smoker Hive tool Bee brush Frame rest …and anything else Smoker Hive tool Bee brush Frame rest …and anything else Space to manuver Sunlight Hive orientation Local ordinances Water source Spouses Other family members Neighbors Allergies Capture a swarm Buy a package Buy a nuc Buy an established hive Or… Host bee hives Have a plan ◦ Don’t panic! ◦ Rope off the area around it (10 feet or so) ◦ Ignore it – it will move on! ◦ Call a local bee club or beekeeper to retrieve the swarm (free) Be prepared to note location, height, size, text photos, and note any special circumstances ◦ Do not spray with water, insecticide, etc. Available at www.backfortybees.com City of Chesapeake ◦ http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/government/City- Departments/Departments/agriculture-virginia-cooperative- extension/honey-bee-swarms.htm US Army Bee Resource Manual ◦ https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/docs/techguides/tg34.pdf Standard Honey Bee Response Guidance USAG-HI ◦ https://www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/command/policies/Standard%20H oney%20Bee%20Response%20Guiidance%20for%20Honey%20Bee%20Swar ms%20and%20Established%20Hives~20%20Jan%2017.pdf Pollinator Friendly Maintenance ◦ https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/17sept/01.cfm Don Cole 757.903.7816 www.backfortybees.com VA Cooperative Extension ◦ http://goo.gl/8nDlui 10 Frame Telescoping Cover Foundation With Inner Cover Frame Top Feeder w/ Super Book - Starting Right With Bees Smoker With Guard 10 Frame Varroa Trap With Frame Lifter and Scraper Drawer 1-4 Economy Hooded Jacket 10 Frame Entrance Reducer Large goatskin gloves 6 5/8" Unassembled 10 Frame Frame Perch Hive Supers Standard Frame Grip 6 1/4" Unassembled Frames Bee Brush Foundation Adds up to about $1,000 Smoker Hive tool Bee brush Frame rest …and anything else.
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