Beekeeping For Dummies - Howland Blackiston

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(see Figure 2-21). These nests can grow large during the summer and eventually reach the size of a basketball. Such nests can contain several thousand large, hot-tempered hornets — keep your distance! The end of the summer marks the end of the hornet city. When the cool weather approaches, the nest is abandoned, and only a newly raised queen survives. She finds a warm retreat underground and emerges in the spring, raising young and building a new nest.

Photograph of the bald-faced hornet that builds fantastically impressive and beautiful paper nests in trees.

      Courtesy of Dr. Edward Ross, California Academy of Sciences

      FIGURE 2-20: The bald-faced hornet makes impressive paper nests in trees.

Photograph of a large paper nest made by a colony of bald-faced hornets from their saliva and wood fiber that they harvest from dead trees.

      Courtesy of Howland Blackiston

      FIGURE 2-21: A large paper nest made by a colony of bald-faced hornets.

      Starting Your Adventure

      Overcome any initial fears and apprehensions of becoming a beekeeper.

      Discover how to conquer potential roadblocks from local authorities, family members, and your immediate neighbors.

      Understand the basics of where to locate your hives, when to start your adventure, and how to feed and water your bees.

      Find out about seven different and popular types of hives, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each design.

      Become familiar with the various tools and equipment that you will be using as a new backyard beekeeper.

      Determine the breed of honey bee that will work best for you and find out where to obtain your bees, when to order them, and how to safely install them into your new hive.

      Alleviating Apprehensions and Making Decisions

      IN THIS CHAPTER

      

Avoiding the dreaded stinger

      

Understanding local restrictions

      

Winning over your family, friends, neighbors, and landlords

      

Picking the perfect location

      

Deciding the best time to start

      I suspect all new backyard beekeepers think similar thoughts as they’re deciding to make the plunge. You’ve thought about beekeeping for some time. You’re growing more and more intrigued by the idea … maybe this is the year you’re going to do something. It certainly sounds like a lot of fun. What could be more unique? It’s educational and a nice outdoor activity for you — back to nature and all that stuff. The bees will do a great job of pollinating the garden, and there’s that glorious crop of delicious homegrown honey to look forward to. And you realize you can make a difference by introducing a colony of bees at a time when the feral bee population is in jeopardy. The anticipation is building daily, and you’re consumed with excitement. That’s it! You’ve made up your mind. You’ll become a beekeeper! But in the back of your mind, some nagging concerns keep bubbling to the surface.

      You’re a wee bit concerned about getting stung, aren’t you? Your friends and family may say you’re crazy for thinking of becoming a beekeeper. What if the neighbors disapprove when they find out? Maybe bees are not even allowed in your neighborhood. What happens if the bees don’t like their new home and all fly away? Help!

      Perhaps the best-known part of the bee’s anatomy is its stinger. Quite honestly, that was my biggest apprehension about taking up beekeeping. I don’t think I’d ever been stung by a honey bee, but I’d certainly felt the wrath of yellow jackets and wasps. I wanted no part of becoming a daily target for anything so unpleasant. I fretted about my fear for a long time, looking for reassurances from experienced beekeepers. They told me time and again that honey bees bred for beekeeping were docile and seldom inclined to sting. But lacking firsthand experience, I was doubtful.

      The advice turned out to be 100 percent correct. Honey bees are docile and gentle creatures. To my surprise (and delight), I made it through my entire first season without receiving a single sting. In the decades that I’ve been keeping bees, not a single member of my family, not a single visitor to my home, and not a single neighbor has ever been stung by one of my honey bees.

      By the way, bees sting — they don’t bite. Honey bees use their stinger only as a last resort to defend the colony. After all, they die after stinging a person. When bees are away from the hive (while they’re collecting nectar and pollen), defending the colony is no longer a priority, so they’re as gentle as lambs out in the field, unless, of course, accidentally stepped on.

      Do I ever get stung? Sure. But usually not more than three or four times a year. In every case, the stings I take are a result of my own carelessness. I’m rushing, taking shortcuts, or am inattentive to their mood — all things I shouldn’t do. (I really should read this book more often!) My sloppiness is merely the result of becoming so comfortable with my bees that I’m not as diligent as I should be. The secrets to avoiding stings are your technique and demeanor.

      Here are some helpful tips for avoiding stings:

       Always wear a veil and use your smoker when visiting your hive (see Chapter 5 for more information on these two vital pieces of beekeeper apparatus).

       Inspect your bees during pleasant daytime weather. Try to use the hours between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. That’s when most of the bees are out working, and fewer bees are at home. Don’t open up the hive at night, during bad weather, or if a thunderstorm is brewing. In Chapters 7 and 8, I go into detail about how to open the hive and inspect the colony.

       Don’t rush. Take your time and move calmly. Sudden movements are a no-no. That sudden jerk of your hand away often provokes, rather than avoids, a sting.

       Keep a good grip on frames. If you drop a frame of bees, you’ll have a memorable story to tell but not a happy one. Also, city roofs are often covered in reflective paint, which gets very hot. The high temperatures will damage the bees’ feet and/or wings. A bee landing on a city rooftop is not the same as landing on a lawn. Perhaps lay a cloth down around the hive before starting an inspection.

       Never swat at bees. Become accustomed to them crawling on your hands and clothing.

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