Beekeeping (or apiculture) is the maintenance of bee colonies, commonly in man-made hives, by humans. Most such bees are honey bees in the genus Apis, but other honey-producing bees such as Melipona stingless bees are also kept.
What is a honey harvester called?
A honey extractor is a device that uses centrifugal force in squeezing honey out of the comb. They come in various sizes and styles and are designed to meet virtually any need and budget. ... Honey extractors are available for sale online, so you can order one and have it shipped right to your door.
What is the process of beekeeping called?
The process of beekeeping is known as Apiculture . It is the maintenance of bee colonies which are common man-made hives. Bees are kept in the bee yard or apiary.
What is a group of beehives called?
An apiary (also known as a bee yard) is a location where beehives of honey bees are kept. ... Furthermore, an apiary may refer to a hobbyist’s hives or those used for commercial or educational usage. It can also be a wall-less, roofed structure, similar to a gazebo which houses hives.
What is used to collect honey?
The easiest way to harvest honey from a bee hive is through the use of a fume board . A fume board looks much like a regular telescoping top/outer hive cover, but the inside contains an absorbent material that is sprayed with a non-toxic solution that the bees do not enjoy.
What is needed for honey extraction?
The basics: Uncapping knife, or hot knife , to scrape the wax from the cells. Fine mesh strainer to remove dirt and debris from the honey. Food-safe tanks or buckets to store the honey before it’s jarred.
Why do beekeepers wear white?
In order to be able to evolve bees have had to protect themselves against predators who want to harm them. ... Therefore by wearing white, a beekeeper can approach and open the hive without the bees becoming defensive and attacking , decreasing the chances of the beekeeper being attacked/stung.
How do I start beekeeping for beginners?
First things first: Take a beekeeping class in the fall or winter ( around November or December ). From there, order your bees and equipment. When your bees arrive in the spring (typically April), you’ll install your hive and spend the next 3-4 months feeding them a combination of sugar and water.
Are worker bees?
Worker bees are female but are not capable of reproducing . They do all the work in the hive, and they control most of what goes on inside. Their jobs include housekeeping, feeding the queen, drones and larvae, collecting the pollen and nectar, and making the wax.
What’s a bee house called?
A beehive is an enclosed structure in which some honey bee species of the subgenus Apis live and raise their young. Though the word beehive is commonly used to describe the nest of any bee colony, scientific and professional literature distinguishes nest from hive.
How many hives can you put on an acre?
Average bee hive densities (hives per acre) recommended for crops grown in the USA range from 1-7 . Most crops that benefit from honey bees require 2-3. Recommended numbers have inched upwards in recent years because of a drop in wild honey bee densities. More managed bees are required to make up the difference.
What is a swarm of bees called?
Cluster – a large group of bees hanging together, one upon another. Colony – all the worker bees, drones, queen, and developing brood living together in one hive or other dwelling.
How many times a year can you harvest honey?
Most beekeepers harvest honey 2-3 times per year/season . Honey is normally harvested between mid June until mid September. How often you harvest depends on your local climate and plant life. Poor weather conditions, disease and pests infiltrating your hives will also affect your harvesting schedule.
What is the process of honey production?
From Bee. Honey starts as flower nectar collected by bees, which gets broken down into simple sugars stored inside the honeycomb. The design of the honeycomb and constant fanning of the bees’ wings causes evaporation , creating sweet liquid honey. Honey’s color and flavor vary based on the nectar collected by the bees.
How much honey do you get from a hive?
How Much Honey Can One Beehive Produce? One hive can produce 60 lb (27 kg) or more in a good season, however an average hive would be around 25 lb (11 kg) surplus. Bees fly about 55,000 miles to make just one pound of honey, that’s 2.2 times around the world. Romans used honey instead of gold to pay their taxes.
