Save The Bees!

I didn't choose the bee life, it chose me, or at least thats what I like to think. This eccentric hobby of mine came to light when I was vigorously searching for a German Shorthaired Pointer puppy. After finding a lot of great breeders and some failed through foster pup stories I could never quite pull the string on actually going along with the purchase of a dog. My gypsy lifestyle couldn't support an animal that needed my attention daily. Also, during this time someone told me having a dog is like having a toddler for 13+ years... and that sealed the deal that the dog mom life wasn't for me. SO I was on the search to find something I could take care of that didn't need mass amounts of attention. A few google searches and youtube videos later and I was hooked, bees were the solution to my nurturing call.

But why Bees? 
Well one, they are cool. Like really cool. And if anyone gets me on the topic of bees I can spew off cool facts for days. Listed below are some cool bee facts, so you too can Bee cool, pun intended.

+ Queen Bees are chosen. When a hives current queen leaves, dies, stops laying eggs, or is injured it is time to produce a new queen. The hive then makes super cells for a couple larvae, known as queen cells, and fill the cell with royal jelly and then encapsulate the cell for development. This is basically steroids for the bee. With more food during metamorphosis they grow larger and stronger than the others. When they hatch, they become queen bees! The hive typically makes a couple queen cells at one time, and then they let the newly hatched queens dual it out for the next queen bee spot.

+ Majority of the hive is made up of nurse bees which are female bees that do most of the tasks needed to keep the hive running, including pollination. Drones, or male bees, serve one purpose and one purpose only; to mate with a queen bee. Once mating occurs the males endophallus (sexual organ) is removed and he quickly dies after.

• A new queen will only go on one mating flight in their lifetime and typically mate with 7-10 drones on said flight and store up to 100 million sperm in her oviducts. 
• Nurse bees can lay unfertilized eggs also, however these turn into drone bees. Only the queen can lay fertilized eggs which develop into nurse bees. 

+ Once mating flights are done, among other reasons, the mass amounts of drone bees are no longer needed. Especially because the only thing drone bees do are eat the honey in the hive. So its time for them to go. They are typically kicked out of the hive by their sister bees. I guess that old saying boys drool and girls rule is a life motto in the bee community. #WhoRunTheWorldGirls

BUT the bees aren't just cool, they are extremely important!
+ 80% of US crops are dependent on honey bees. In 2010, honey bee pollination helped produce ~$15 billion dollars worth of agricultural crops in the US.

• Pollination- The transfer of pollen from the anther (male part of flower) to the stigma (female part of flower), then the plants seed, nut, or fruit is formed.
• Almonds are the most pollination-dependent crop in US.
• Honey bees also pollinate clover and alfalfa, common foods fed to cattle; in turn affecting the meat and dairy industry too.

+  The scary part: a third of the nations honey bee population died in 2016.

• The varroa mite is the leading cause of the raising colony deaths.
• Pollination costs have rose in response to commercial beekeepers added expense of hive replacement. When a hive falls ill to a varroa mite infestation, the entire hive is no longer usable in fear the disease will spread to a newly placed colony. The entire $300+ hive, frames, etc. have to be thrown away. (why it's important to NOT buy used hives)

Thinking about becoming a Beekeeper this upcoming spring?
Was it the awesome bee facts, listed importance of the creature, or the sexy white suit that sparked your interest? Listed below are a few key steps to help get started for the upcoming season.

+ First and foremost look into your cities beekeeping association, which should be a quick google search away. This is where most of the pertenent information can be found, i.e. city limit laws, monthly meetings, where to buy bees/gear.

• A great way to get your toes wet and see if the bee life is for you is to get into contact with someone from your cities beekeeping association and ask if they can become your mentor and tend their hives with them. This way you can learn all of the ins and outs of the trade and see if it is for you before making the larger purchases. 
• If going with the mentor route the only thing you will need is a bee suit. Make sure you find a well ventilated suit that is WHITE. Bees see in ultraviolet light and attack any dark colors in fear they are predators. (link to: Ventilated suit off of Amazon)

+ Some states have beehive grants that they provide to new beekeepers to help offset some of the startup costs. Search and see if this is something your state has in place!

Goodluck on your feature bee-devors, and next time you see a honey bee admire that little power-house of a worker!

My neighbor Tom and I searching for the
newly hatched queen

Cutting capped comb early summer