piece of honeycomb
Beekeeping, the practice of artificially maintaining colonies of honey bees, is one of the oldest forms of food production. Formally known as beekeeping, beekeeping is believed to have been practiced as early as 13,000 BC. The ancient Egyptians were especially skilled in the art of beekeeping, as they considered honey to be an important part of their diet.
a bee
While most people associate beekeeping exclusively with collecting honey, there are many other ways modern beekeepers can earn an income from their colonies. For example, beeswax is often used to make candles and cosmetics. Royal jelly, a substance secreted by the hypopharyngeal glands of young worker bees, is a popular dietary supplement. Propolis, a resinous substance used by honey bees to seal cracks in the hive, is used in alternative medicine, acupuncture, and homeopathy. Many commercial beekeeping operations also offer a crop pollination service that provides a significant portion of their annual income.
A queen bee surrounded by attendants.
The place where the beekeeper keeps his bees is called the apiary or beekeeper. The bee colony is kept inside a hive which is made up of a series of wooden boxes and frames containing sheets of wax for the bees to use as a starting point to build the honeycomb. The top box contains honey, while the bottom box is used to hold the queen bee and most of the workers. In the United States, the most popular type of hive design used for beekeeping is known as the Langstroth hive.
Some researchers believe that heavy use of insecticides may have been responsible for the bee die-off that occurred in the early 21st century.
Since bees can be dangerous, the beekeeper must take several safety precautions when working near a colony of bees. A hat or veil is commonly worn to keep the face and neck safe from bites. Gloves are another popular form of beekeeping protection, although many beekeepers complain that the gloves restrict their movement. A hooded suit, usually made of a light-colored fabric, may also be worn to help distinguish the beekeeper from the bee’s natural predators.
Beekeepers maintain colonies of bees.
While working with a colony of bees, a beekeeper uses a smoker to help calm the bees. Smoke is useful in beekeeping because it masks the guard bee’s alarm pheromones and encourages other bees to feed, making them think they will soon have to leave their hive. This gives the beekeeper enough time to inspect the colony and perform any necessary maintenance. Pine needles, pulp paper, corrugated cardboard or compressed cotton are some of the fuels that can be used in a bee smoker.