Houston Urban Food Production Conference

Beekeeping Rule No.1

BEEKEEPING BASICS

BE SAFE AROUND BEES!

Presented by

Jeff McMullan
Fort Bend Beekeepers Association

BEWARE OF STING ALLERGIES!

seek medical attention if .. - stung many times - difficulty breathing - reaction away from the sting

BEE SAFE

Honey bee facts.

honey bees as pollinators impact U. S. agricultural crops valued at $15 billion per year

Honey bee facts.

pests, disease and pesticides have decimated feral honey bee colonies in many areas Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is the term given to the loss of many managed colonies

The Honey Bee Queen

THE HONEY BEE COLONY

colony has a single queen may live five years or even more largest bee in the colony may lay 1,500 or more eggs per day emits chemical scents (pheromones) that regulate the colony unity attendants are vital

The Honey Bee Worker

females with undeveloped ovaries most of colonys population smaller abdomen than the queen barbed stinger life span of only six weeks during active season

Foraging
nectar for honey pollen (protein) water resins for propolis

The Honeybee Drone

only role is as mating partner large barrel shape huge eyes develops from unfertilized egg haploid (one set of chromosomes) no stinger accepted and cared for by (any) colonys workers ejected from hive at the end of the season

The Honey Bee Hive

the Queen 60,000 or so female workers a few hundred male drones comb constructed of beeswax immature brood stores of nectar, honey and pollen

HONEY BEE BROOD: COMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS

pupae

larvae

eggs adult

stores of nectar and honey

Propolis

stores of pollen (bee bread)

The Keeping of Bees

telescoping cover (and inner cover)

Foundation and Frames

medium supers

medium brood deep brood bottom board hive stand

foundation
deep (8 1/2 x 16 3/4 ) medium (5 5/8 x 16 3/4 ) shallow (4 3/4 x 16 3/4 )

Where can I get bees?

Colony Placement easy maintenance easy access hive stand safe, discrete full sun cleansing flights water source barriersup and away

buy packaged bees

Where can I get bees?

buy packaged bees buy active hives (or nucs) split an existing hive captured swarms

Where can I get bees?

buy packaged bees buy active hives (or nucs) split an existing hive captured swarms colony removal (cutouts)

Beekeeper Gear
protective clothing smoker tools and gadgets

Honeybee Pests and Disease

honeybees are susceptible to a number of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungus and even protozoans parasites and hive pests cause serious problems

Integrated Pest Management

Use

Managing Pests and Disease

chemical pesticides, antibiotics, etc. beekeeping equipment and practices biological control genetic selection

LEAST TOXIC MEANS

to control

IDENTIFIED PESTS
that are causing or likely to cause

SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

Rewards of Beekeeping

Beekeeping Rule No.1

BE SAFE AROUND BEES!

Houston Urban Food Production Conference

BEEKEEPING BASICS

Presented by

Jeff McMullan
Fort Bend Beekeepers Association