Beekeeping: Step1 - Developing A Love For Bees
Bees are interesting and complex creatures. They are less active in cold weather and therefore produce less honey during the winter months. They become more active in the spring and honey production picks up throughout the summer. The weather is not the only influence for this time schedule. Spring also brings new flowers and pollen for the bees to feed upon which entices them to become more active and make more honey.
The mating schedule and pattern of the bee also depends upon the temperature. The queen however is constantly producing eggs and can make up to 2000 each day. The hive has one queen and when she dies, a replacement is found.
Queens can be recognized by the buzzing sound that they make. Their buzz is higher pitched compared to other bees. Moreover, the queen is surrounded by workers and drones. The queen is protected by these other bees at all times for they are considered the most important in the colony. Also, when an attack takes place, these workers sacrifice themselves just to keep the queen safe. These worker bees can be likened to the president's secret service men who devote their lives to protecting their leader.
Bees are like one big family, most of them are female, but only one will rise to the rank of the queen. Her job is to keep the hive populated with new offspring and the other bees protect her at all costs. Bees are often misunderstood by most people. Only when one becomes a beekeeper and learns how to nurture a hive can one come to appreciate how wonderful these little creatures actually are.
Beekeeping is a fun hobby that is often passed down through generations. Through beekeeping, one can become more attuned with nature as the cycle between nature and the food chain becomes more apparent. Many beekeepers find that they develop a fondness for their bees and are often amazed at their close knit behavior.
One should never forget that bees can also be provoked to attack, although if handled properly, the chances are low that it will happen. So beekeepers must always take the proper precautions when working with the hive so they won't be stung or swarmed.
It is also a good idea to do some research into the behavior of the type of bees that one is raising. This will give further insight into their life cycle and also help the beekeeper to nurture the hive so that it stays healthy and full of lively happy bees.
