A C’s of Presenters: Tasha Mitchell Andy Todd Cast of Characters

› Three types of › Worker › › Queen › There can be up to 60,000 bees in healthy hive. It’s important to know the different types, their characteristics, and their responsibilities.

› The unsung heroes › Life span is only 6 of the hive weeks during › Make up the active season. majority of the hive › Specific jobs and › All workers are duties vary based female on their age. › Perform many jobs in and outside of the hive. Worker Bee

› From egg-larva-pupa till emerging takes 21 days. › The first 3 days of larva stage they are fed , then switched to bee bread ( and honey) Difference in Worker and Queen

Worker Queen › Smaller in size › Stinger is smooth › Abdomens are rather than barbed shorter › Rarely stings › Has pollen baskets › Lays fertilized eggs Worker Bee (House Bees)

› First 3 weeks of their life is spent as house bees. › As they are born they clean their cells to prepare it for new eggs. › Undertaker bees-Remove the dead as well as dirt and other matter. › Use (bee glue) to seal cracks etc. Worker Bees (House Bees)

› Nurse bees tend to the eggs and larvae. › Feed larvae a mixture of pollen and honey, and royal jelly. › Check brood up to 1,300 times a day. › Queens attendance groom, feed, and remove excrement from the queen. Coax her to lay eggs. Worker Bees (House Bees)

› Honey makers: Take from foraging bees and deposit into cells. › Add an enzyme to the nectar and fan cells to evaporate water from nectar and turn into honey. › Also take pollen from forages and place in cell. Both pollen and honey used as food. Worker Bees (House Bees)

› After about 12 days worker bees are able to produce bees wax. › Wax is used to build comb › Wax is also used to cap the honey. Worker Bees (House Bees)

› Guard Bees- last task of the house bee before venturing from the hive. › Sting glands have developed enough to have right amount of venom › Guard entrance of the hive checking bees as they come in for familiar scent. › Only family members allowed! › Other bees, , hornets are driven away or attacked. Worker Bees (Field Bees)

› Last and perhaps most important job of the worker bee. › Leaves hive to for nectar and pollen. › Dangerous job, food for birds, swatted or stepped on by humans, caught out in the rain or cold. Drones

› A drone is an unfertilized egg. › The only male in the colony › Make up a very small percentage of the hive. › Does not have a stinger Drones

› From egg-larva-pupa-emerging takes 24 days which is the longest out of the 3. › Also is fed royal jelly for 3 days then switched to bee bread. Drone VS. Queen

Drone Queen › Rounded end like › Pointed end a bullet › Abdomen in longer › Very large eyes meant for queen watching Drone

› Doesn’t forage › Doesn’t defend the hive › Doesn’t produce wax › What is it’s job?? › To mate with a Queen! Drones

› Drone sex organs are barbed and torn away after mating. › Once weather is cooler and mating season is over, workers no longer tolerate freeloading drones. › Drones are given an eviction notice from hive › Must preserve food as much as possible › Unable to feed or defend themselves, Drones die outside of the hive. Her Royal Highness The Queen!

› Only 1 queen to a hive › Very important to a hive. Without a queen, your hive will eventually die out. › Can live 2 or more years › Keep eye out for a failing queen. Producing less eggs = weak hive.

› Cycle from egg, larva, to pupa to emerging is 16 days. The shortest of the 3. › Unlike worker and drone, the Queen is only fed Royal Jelly. Queen Bee

› Virgin queen before going on her mating flight. › Will take one or more mating flights over the course of a few days and then done for a life time. › Will mate with up to 20 drones › Stores the sperm and fertilizes eggs as she lays them. › Fertilized egg ( Worker) Unfertilized(drone) › Mating occurs outside of hive 200 to 300 feet in the air › Many mark their queens so they are easy to spot. Queen Bee

› Queen has 2 primary purposes. › Produces chemical scents (pheromones)to help regulate the unity of the colony, signals them to forage, build comb, etc. As she ages, pheromones weaken, which can signal bees to supersede. › Lays eggs! Lots of them. Can lay more than 1,500 eggs a day. Queen Bee

› If hive feels the queen is failing they will create another queen › This rival queen will attempt to overthrow the old queen › Old queen will often kill new queen before she emerges from cell. › Game of Thrones anyone!! A Bee C’s of Beekeeping Best Practices Presented by: Andy Todd When?

› Start as early as possible › Catching Swarms › Installing Packages and Nucs Where?

› Full sun is best › Keep your neighbors in mind › Bees Need to Forage Where cont..

› Consider the type of hive stand you need › Bees need a water source How?

› Don’t forget, safety first › Slow, steady movements › Sure thing in beekeeping…you will get stung › Don’t panic…move away from hive. How cont…

› Avoid working bees on chilly, windy, cloudy days. › Work from side or back of the hive. Tips and Tricks

› 2nd sure thing in beekeeping….your bees will die. › Join a local beekeeping club › Don’t over or under check your bees. Tips and Tricks cont..

› Have extra equipment ready › Find a mentor › Have a goal in mind › Be ready to adapt and change