Exploring the Bee Industry

1. Exploring the Bee Industry Lesson 15

2. Next Generation Science/Common Core Standards Addressed! • H S‐LS2‐8. Evaluate the evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species’ chances to survive and reproduce. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on: (1) distinguishing between group and individual behavior, (2) identifying evidence supporting the outcomes of group behavior, and (3) developing logical and reasonable arguments based on evidence. Examples of group behaviors could include flock-ing, schooling, herding, and cooperative behaviors such as hunting, migrating, and swarming.]

3. Bell Work! • List general bee and honey facts. • Identify bee and honey term definitions. • Describe where to locate an apiary and where to get bees. • Discuss hive management.

4. Terms • Foraging • Foul brood • Hive • Honey • Honeycomb • Mead • Queen bee • Apiary • Bee eggs • Bee wax • Brood • Casts • Drones • Extractor

5. Interest Approach • Bring in honey products like wax, honey, an old hive, or any other product you have access to and display them on a table. • Start a discussion with students about each product. • If possible invite a “bee keeper” to visit the classrooom.

6. What are some interesting facts related to bees and honey production? • Bees can fly 15 miles per hour • Honey consist of 80% sugar & 20% water • Central brood nest, bees maintain 92 – 93 degrees Fahrenheit, no matter outside temperature

7. What are some interesting facts related to bees and honey production? • One pound of beeswax requires bees to produce 17 – 20 pounds of honey • The term honeymoon describing newlyweds originated because of the Norse tradition of consuming large amounts of mead during the first month of marriage • Mead • fermented honey and the most ancient known fermented beverage

8. What are some interesting facts related to bees and honey production? • Queen bee has lifespan of 3 to 4 years • She can lay 2,500 eggs each day • Daily egg production can even equal the weight of the queen bee • One colony can contain up to 60,000 bees during peak pollination time • Bees can normally fly 1 to 2 miles to obtain food • Brain of the worker bee is the densest neuropile tissue of any known animal

9. Identify bee and honey term definitions. Objective #2

10. What are definitions for bee and honey terms? • Apiary • where a hive or group of hives is managed • Brood • the eggs and larvae of the hive • Casts • small swarms that come from a hive after the main swarm

11. What are definitions for bee and honey terms? • Drones • male bees that mate with virgin queens • much bigger than worker bees • Bee eggs • laid in a brood cell and will emerge 16 – 24 days later • Hive • the bee’s home

12. What are definitions for bee and honey terms? • Extractor • barrel-like machine used to extract honey from its comb • Foraging • workers that leave the hive to collect pollen, water, and nectar • Foul brood • most serious of all bee diseases

13. What are definitions for bee and honey terms? • Honey • product produced by bees from nectar and is stored and used for food • excess is not used by the bees and harvested by the beekeeper • Bee wax • secreted by the worker bees from their wax glands in order to build the honey comb

14. What are definitions for bee and honey terms? • Honeycomb • consists of hexagonal cells built up on the side of a central vertical wall • used to store the honey • Queen bee • mother of the hive and lays eggs • does not leave the hive unless she decides to swarm

15. Describe where to locate an apiary and where to get bees. Objective #3

16. Where should I locate an apiary? • If in country: • provide shade in hottest part of day If in populated area: • place bees away from neighbors • Orchards are wonderful places because: • provide shelter from sun & wind • provide immediate accessibility to pollen & nectar

17. Where should I locate an apiary? • Place main hive entrance so it is free of obstructions • Bees get angry if line of flight or main entrance gets blocked • Since bees travel for nectar providing them with enough is not a concern

18. Where should I get my bees?

19. Where should I get my bees? • Buy bees that are free from disease • You can buy just the bees or with all the equipment included • Buy or obtain swarms • Even buy bees by the pound

20. Discuss hive management. Objective #4

21. What are some good practices to follow when managing hives? • Be familiar with pesticides used in area that could affect honey or bees. • Limit swarming of bees by giving all bees enough space in the hive. • Keep harvested honey away from the bees so they cannot steal it back. • Place hives in an area protected by prevailing winds. • Make sure no local regulations prevent from having bees.

22. What are some good practices to follow when managing hives? • Always purchase bees from reputable bee sources. • Replace the queen bee every two years. • Have bees inspected once a year and before you buy or sell any. • If you don’t want bees to return to a former site, move them at least 5 miles away from original site. • Make sure there is a market for your honey before you make bunch.

23. Review • What are some interesting facts related to bees and honey production? • What are definitions for bee and honey terms? • Where should I locate an apiary? • Where should I get my bees? • What are some good practices to follow when managing hives?

24. The End!