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The Authors
Eric C. Mussen, Extension Harry H. Laidlaw, Emeritus
Apiculturist, University of Professor of Entomolog and
California, Davis; editor and reviser Apiculturist, Retired, diversit y of
of all sections. California, Davis.
Maintaining Genetic Stock
Len Foote, Chief, Control and
Eradication, Division of Plant Robbin W. Thorp, Professor of
Industry, California Department of Entomology and Apiculturist, in the
Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, Experiment Station, University of
California. California, Davis.
State Laws Relating to Beekeeping Pollinating Crops with Honey
Bee Diseases Bees
Other Disorders Sources of Nectar and Pollen
Pests of Bees Lee H. Watkins, Emeritus Apiarist
(deceased), University of California,
Norman E. Gary, Professor of Davis.
Entomology and Apiculturist, in the Beekeeping in California
Experiment Station, University of
California, Davis. Front and back cover photos
An Observation Beehive by Paul Rosenfeld
Foreword 1
Contents Beekeeping in California 2
Value of the industry
Keeping bees for fun and profit
Becoming a Beekeeper 4
Beekeeping organizations
State laws relating to beekeeping
The Colony 6
The queen bee
The drone bee
The worker bee
Annual colony cycle
Choosing Bees 9
Buying a colony in a hive
Buying a nucleus
Buying and installing packages
Hiving a swarm
Choosing Equipment 11
Hive components
Personal equipment
Managing Bees 17
Colony examinations
Spring management
Preventing swarming
Summer management
Preventing robbing
Fall and winter management
Feeding Bees 22
Supplemental feeding-pollen
Supplemental feeding-sugar
Supplemental feeding-pollen
supplements and substitutes
Maintaining Genetic Stock 25
Environment and heredity
Stock maintenance
Care of queens
Requeening
Queen introduction
Pollinating Crops with
Honey Bees 27
Deploying colonies
CoIony strength
Distribution
Plant competition
Other considerations
Moving hives
Producing and
Marketing Honey 30
Small-scale harvesting
Large-scale harvesting
Honey products
Honeydew honey
Commercial Queen Rearing 36
Rearing queens
Packaged bee production
Other Enterprises 39
Beeswax
Royal jelly
Harvesting pollen
Sources of Nectar and Pollen 42
Bee Diseases 45
Brood diseases
Adult bee diseases
Honey bee parasitic mites
Diagnosing diseases
Materials registered for bee disease
control
Other Disorders 51
Poisoning
Brood disorders
Other problems
Pests of Bees 54
Wax moth
Ants
Bears
Materials registered for wax moth
control
Skunks
Mice
Livestock
Vandalism
An Observation Beehive 57
Construction and mounting
Establishing the colony
Maintaining the hive
Problems and solutions
Glossary 62
References 67
For information about ordering this publication, write to:
Publications
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
University of California
6701San Pablo Avenue
Oakland, California 94608-1239
or telephone (415)642-2431
Publication 21422
ISBN 0-931876-79-6
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 87-71574
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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and
June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Kenneth R. Farrell, Director of Cooperative Extension, University of
California.
Choosing Equipment
12
Fig. 2 Basic beekeeping equipment: (A) welded wire queen excluder; (B) frame; (C) vertically wired
beeswax foundation; (D) hat and wire veil; (E) wire for frames and spur embedder; (F) hive tool, bee
brush, and gloves; (G) 1-story, 10-frame hive; (H) smoker. All these items are available commercially.
hive body. A hive body is designed of ten (or eight) frames designed to
to hold ten (or eight) full-depth fit the box. Each frame should have a
(95/8 inches deep) frames on which sheet of the proper size and type
the bees will rear their young and foundation firmly attached to the top
store food. A colony eventually will bar. The bees will follow the pattern
get large enough to cover all ten embossed on the foundation when
frames and will require at least two building beeswax combs. After all
hive bodies to hold all the brood and the combs are drawn out fully, one
bees. Boxes placed above the brood frame can be removed from a ten-
nest for storage of honey are called frame hive body and the remaining
supers. Supers may be full depth, nine frames spaced evenly across the
medium, or three-quarter depth box so that the frames can be manip-
(6 5/8 inches deep), shallow ulated more easily.
(5 3/4inches deep) or comb honey Foundation. Commercial founda-
(45/8 inches deep). The type of super tion is sold in many sizes and types.
selected depends upon the type of To assure a proper fit, purchase the
honey being produced (see Producing frames and foundation from the
and Marketing Honey) and the ability same supplier. Generally, there are
of the beekeeper to lift filled boxes. two types of foundation: wired and
Each hive body and super origi- plastic. Wired is designed for
nally should be filled with a full set strength and is used for brood combs
and extracting combs. The founda- A jig can be modified to hold an
tion is thick and reinforced with ver- insert that fills the space in the mid-
tical wires or a plastic midrib. The dle of the frame. When a wired
vertically wired foundation must be frame is placed over a sheet of foun-
supported by additional horizontal dation lying on the insert, the insert
wires to avoid sagging under the presses the foundation up against
weight of brood and stored food. the wires. An electric train or door-
Beekeepers can avoid the use of bell transformer should be used to
wires, embedding tools, and other supply the electricity needed to heat
problems by using a plastic founda- the wires and melt them into the
tion, which snaps into place, or plas- wax.
tic combs, which combine frame and Edible foundation. Beginning
foundation. beekeepers who do not wish to
Wiring jig. Beekeepers can pur- invest in extracting equipment can
chase or make a jig for wiring frames produce, without further processing,
and embedding wires in beeswax a class of honey in which portions of
foundation (fig. 4). Best results comb will be eaten.
require use of eyelets in endbar holes Special types of lighter weight
to prevent the wire from cutting into comb foundation are used to pro-
the wood. The jig holds a nailed duce cut comb, chunk, or comb
frame under slight end-to-end pres- honey sections (see Producing and
sure while No. 26 tinned wire is Marketing Honey). Since the founda-
threaded through the holes and tion is intended to be eaten, it is
around small svools. One end of the pressed very thin. The beekeeper
wire is wrapped around a tack which should remember that replacing the
is driven in. The wire is slipped off foundation each time the combs are
the small spools, pulled tightly, filled increases the cost of producing
wrapped around the other tack, and comb honey. Recovering the cost of
driven tightly. Then it is snipped, the foundation when the honey is
usually by bending it back and forth sold is justifiable.
repeatedly.
Fig. 4 A wiring jig is used to fasten taut horizontal wires to frames and to embed the
wires into sheets of beeswax foundation.
Paint. Hives should be protected alarm system used by bees to alert
from the elements with an ample each other of foreign intruders. Judi-
coating of a good grade outdoor oil, cious use of cool smoke generated
latex, or aluminum-based paint. from smoldering burlap sacking,
Paint all surfaces of bottom boards, wood chips, or other slowly combus-
but only the outside surfaces of tible materials, enables beekeepers to
boxes and covers. A hive stand (fig. examine their bees with little chance
3) will prolong by many years the of being stung. Oversmoking bees
useful life of bottom boards. Painting can cause as much agitation as not
hives different pastel colors signifi- smoking them at all.
cantly reduces the tendency of bees Hive tool. This tool is specifically
to drift from one colony to another. .
designed for prying apart boxes,
Queen excluder. This metal or loosening frames, scraping excess
plastic screen is designed with 0.163- wax, and so forth. The hive tool is
inch spaces to prevent passage of a essential when manipulating hives
queen (and drones), while allowing because bees collect propolis and use
worker bees to pass through (fig. it to seal all cracks between the top
2A). Usually, a queen excluder is box and cover, adjoining boxes, and
placed between the upper hive body frames and boxes.
and lower super to keep the queen Bee veil. Wire veils commonly are
out of the honey storage area. Queen used because they do not blow
excluders often become clogged with against the face. Meshed tulle veiling
wax, propolis, or drones that can is available in various styles, also.
interfere significantly with passage Veils are worn over wide-rimmed
of worker bees to and from the helmets and usually have strings to
honey storage area. keep them tied to the body. Zipper
L-shaped metal rabbets. These styles are available for use with
strips of lightweight metal are fas- matching coveralls.
tened along the edges upon which Gloves. Experienced beekeepers
the frames rest in each box. The seldom use gloves because their use
metal surface protects the wooden tends to make handling of frames
rabbets from damage by the hive tool awkward. However, a pair of kid
when frames are being pried from leather beekeeper's gloves definitely
the hive or when propolis and wax is handy for an amateur working
are being scraped from the ledges. with agitated bees.
Honey extractor. Honey extract- Coveralls. White, full-length, zip-
ing equipment and procedures are pered cotton coveralls are used by
described in detail in the section on many beekeepers to keep propolis,
Producing and Marketing Honey. honey, wax, and smoker exudates
from soiling their regular clothes.
Additionally, the long pants are
Personalequipment tucked into boots and the long
(fig. 2 D, F, H) sleeves are covered by glove gaunt-
lets to keep the beekeeper nearly
Smoker. This combustion cham- stingproof. Avoid wearing dark-col-
ber with attached bellows is used to ored or fuzzy, heavy-woven fabrics,
smoke the colony. Smoke puffed into which seem to stimulate stinging.
a hive interferes with the chemical
Managing Bees
(2) Adding boxes. Bees will move into new boxes to clean the combs,
draw foundation, or manipulate honey, thus relieving congestion in the
brood chamber.
(3) Dividing colonies. When colonies have eight to ten frames of brood,
they can be divided into two colonies. It is best to have a young, mated
queen ready for the queenless half. (The Demaree method is similar, but
division is uneven and both colonies are kept, one above the other, in the
same hive. See text books for a full explanation.)
(4) Using young queens. First-year queens are much less apt to swarm,
while second-year queens and queens from captured swarms are very
likely to leave. Clipped (wings) queens are not able to fly; however, this
does not preclude swarming. The queen will walk out of the hive, get
lost on the ground, and the swarm is very apt to leave later with a virgin
queen, leaving the original colony hopelessly queenless. Despite all
advertising to the contrary, no special devices meant to be placed in or on
the hives can adequately prevent swarming.
If a colony is preparing to swarm, there will be a number of queen
cells on the combs. To requeen, select a well-developed queen cell and
remove all others. Also find the old queen and kill her by pinching her
head. The new queen will emerge from her cell in a few days and thus
requeen the colony (unless it swarms!).
Good spring pastures often prove Extracted honey may be har-
to be inadequate sources of pollen vested as soon as the combs are full
and nectar in summer. Feeding bees of honey and are three-fourths
both syrup and pollen is essential in capped in regions with low relative
some locations for continued brood humidities. Honey should be fully
rearing, maintaining bee popula- capped and processed quickly in
tions, insuring adequate winter areas with high relative humidities.
stores, and successful overwintering. Equipment and techniques for han-
Commercial beekeepers move their dling honey are explained in Produc-
hives hundreds of miles to locate ing and Marketing Honey.
their bees in areas with ample for-
age. Knowledge of the annual
blooming sequence and locations of Summer management
good forage plants is essential for
economically successful moves. It is Because spring pastures are often
also important to provide adequate inadequate for summer foraging,
space for incoming nectar. Excess enough inspections should be made
open combs have been shown to in summer to ascertain whether
increase honey production; inade- there is sufficient natural food in the
quate space leads to honey in the hives; at least 30 pounds of honey
brood nest, which hampers brood should be in each hive all summer.
production and leads to population (When inspecting hives, also check
decline. for disease.)
A few bees probably rob some honey from other colonies most of the
time, but during nectar dearths robbing can become severe and colonies
can be destroyed. Robbing bees usually can be recognized by their "dan-
gling feet" flight at the hive entrance and by their attempts to enter
cracks between supers.
Taking the following steps will help minimize robbing:
(1) When examining colonies during dearth periods, do not keep hives
open any longer than is absolutely necessary and place frames of honey
in a super covered with wet burlap during inspections.
(2) If feeding is necessary, start feeding in late afternoon. When bees are
fed in the morning, the excitement can trigger robbing behavior.
(3) Colonies are best protected by a robber screen (fig. 5), which
reduces the entrance considerably while allowing adequate ventilation
on hot days.
Fall and winter management honey often is consumed faster than
it is produced. A prudent beekeeper
If they are going to build up should start the winter with 50
quickly the next spring, colonies pounds (one completely full, full-
should go into winter with large, depth super) of honey or syrup on
well-fed populations of young fat the bees. Colonies with this amount
bees. In many locations in California of food usually will not require win-
there is not enough pollen to sustain ter feeding and will do well during a
adequate brood rearing through rainy spring.
August and September and colonies "Robbing," an activity evident in
should be fed pollen, pollen supple- apiaries during the absence of a nec-
ment, or a substitute. (See Feeding tar flow, can lead to the destruction
Bees.) An ideal colony for wintering of colonies. (See section on robbing.)
contains a vigorous young queen, is As temperatures cool, entrances
disease-free, has 10 or more frames can be reduced to a couple of inches,
covered with bees, and has an ade- but check during winter that
quate supply of stored food. Queen- entrances have not become clogged
less colonies, or those very sparsely with dead bees. Precautions should
populated, should be united with be taken to fasten covers to the hives
stronger, queenright colonies. Colo- and to turn entrances away from
nies with less than 10 frames of bees prevailing winter winds.
can be overwintered, but they Winter is the slowest season for
should be forced into a single hive bees and beekeepers, although win-
body beneath a super of honey. ter feeding of bees is common in Cal-
The colony actually begins con- ifornia. This is the time to prepare
suming winter stores after the final equipment, paint hives, and renew
major honey flow and continues supplies of materials to be used the
until the spring flows start in earnest next season. Once February arrives
many months later. Even in areas in California, the new beekeeping
where brood is reared year-round season begins.
and bees attempt to find food daily,
Fig. 5 A robber screen reduces the size of the entrance, which must
be protected against robbing bees, while providing a means for hive
ventilation.
Feeding Bees
Honey, pollen, and water com- (3) for pollination of almonds, and
prise the natural diet of honey bees. (4) for shaking bulk bees for
Honey is their carbohydratelenergy packages.
source. Pollen provides protein, fats,
vitamins, and minerals to the nurse Instructions for formulating and
bees, essential for producing the dispensing various types of feeds to
royal jelly that is fed to the queen, bees follow.
drones, and young larvae. Royal Care should be taken to feed pol-
jelly is fed in overabundance to lar- len trapped only from colonies
val queens. Worker bees consume a known to be free of chalkbrood and
frame of honey and pollen for each American foulbrood disease.
frame of brood they rear. A colony Although bees can be induced to
rearing 1,000 new bees a day rear brood year-round by continually
requires nearly 10 pounds of pollen supplying combs with pollen packed
and nectar a month. Simply to sur- into the cells immediately adjacent to
vive, various estimates suggest, a the larvae on the next frame, pollen
colony requires approximately 100 is usually fed to bees as patties dur-
pounds of honey and 50 pounds of ing a season of normal brood pro-
pollen each year. Water, the major duction. Pollen pellets can be mixed
component of bee tissues, is required directly into sugar syrups (after
to dilute concentrated foods, main- being soaked in water for a few min-
tain humidity in the brood nest, and utes) and mixed until a smooth,
air-condition the hive on hot days. heavy paste is formed. The mixture
Beekeepers must examine their should be allowed to sit for 24 hours
colonies frequently to assess the con- before feeding to be sure that it has
dition of the food supply. During not become too dry, since pollen
periods of nectar or pollen dearth, absorbs quite a bit of the moisture
the beekeeper must supply substi- from the syrup. The mixture should
tutes, if continued brood rearing is be dry enough to prevent oozing
desired. Supplemental feeding is between the frames, but moist
also used to build up populations: enough so that the bees can chew it.
The to pound patties are
(1) to compensate in part for pesti- placed in the hive on top of the
cide losses, frames, in direct contact with the
(2) for winter, cluster of bees.
Supplemental Feeding-Pollen
Air-dried pollen Extremely varied: mols- Acceptable to bees if air-dried, then frozen; stores well frozen;
products ture- 25%; protein-6 mixed pollens better than single source. Soften pellets with water
to 40%. before feeding as paste or mixing into pollen supplement. Has
proven ability to spread chalkbrood if trapped from infected col-
ony; can possibly be contaminated by pesticides.
Supplemental Feeding-Sugar
Honey
comb fructose (38%) + None Requires availability of water to be
glucose (31 %) + utilized; proven ability to spread
sucrose (1 %) + American foulbrood (AFB) when
other sugars ( 9%) taken from a contaminated hive.
+ water (18 % )
Liquidose sucrose (38 1/2%) + glu- Same as light syrup Delivered as 77% solids and does
50 cose (20%) + fructose not ferment; will crystalize out of
(16%) + other sugars solution below 80°F; very attractive
(2 1/2%) + water full strength or diluted; used in pol-
123%)-inverts from len supplements and substitutes;
high fructose corn syrup available in tank truckloads, drums,
or 5-gallon pails.
Nulomoline 50 to 90% inverted None Very heavy syrup used in preparing
sucrose + glucose crys- queen cage candy.
tals or micropulverized
sucrose + water +
invertase
queen cage candy Nulornoline + a little None Let stand overnight and check con-
Drivert + a couple drops sistency before use; reconstitute if
of glycerine kneaded to hard and dry or soft and sticky;
proper consistency stores for long periods in airtight
containers.
Corn syrup
high fructose corn fructose (26%) + glu- Same as light syrup Available in various percent solids; no
syrup (HFCSl) cose (31%) + other detrimental effects on free-flying
sugars (5%) + water bees; may become major bee food if
(38%)-acid hydration sugar prices increase significantly.
of cornstarch to glucose;
enzyme conversion of
glucose to fructose
Requeening
Requeening occurs when a queen
of poor stock or one that is aging
must be replaced. Colonies can be
requeened at any time during the
active season, but they usually are
requeened during a minor nectar
flow because the new queen is more
readily accepted then. Before intro-
Pollinating Crops with
Honey Bees
Deploying colonies
Distribution
The number of colonies of bees
used per acre depends on the kind of Because bees tend to work close
crop, the population of the colonies, to their hives in attractive pasturage,
the weather, and the amount of com- hives should be distributed at 1/4 -
peting bloom in the area of the crop. mile intervals throughout the fields.
Two colonies per acre in most crops If the field is less than 100 acres or
are enough to insure optimum num- the orchard is less than 40 acres, the
bers of bees during the most unfa- colonies may be placed in six to eight
vorable conditions for pollination. groups around the edges of the crop.
For alfalfa seed crops, approximately For long-sided, narrow, rectangular
three colonies per acre are commonly fields, colonies should be grouped
used for long-season crop produc- along each long side, with heaviest
tion; however, alfalfa seed yields in concentrations near the center of the
areas of short-season production are field, to provide the best pollinator
maximized when growers rent five distribution.
to ten colonies per acre. In melon
pollination, one colony per acre is Plant competition
often used, but two to three colonies
per acre are considered better. Honey bees may visit plants other
than those to be pollinated, if such
plants provide more attractive pollen
Colony strength or nectar or if other fields of the
same crop are more attractive due to
In the mid-1960s representatives understocking. To prevent bees from
from the beekeeping and agricultural visiting competing flowers, colonies
crop-producing industries agreed to should be moved in after the begin-
standardize colony strength for polli- ning of bloom, when there is suffic-
nation purposes: For almond pollina- ient forage to hold bees in the crop.
tion four frames of bees and a laying It may be advisable to destroy cover
queen per colony were accepted as crops in orchards to reduce competi-
the minimum needed, and for alfalfa tion and pesticide hazard.
seed production the minimum
acceptablelevel was at least nine
frames of bees and 600 square inches Other considerations
of brood. Growers and beekeepers
realize that larger units accomplish Weather. Bees begin to fly when
more pollination, and recently new temperatures reach about 55°F. They
pricing structures have been devised do not fly in rain, heavy fog, or in
that offer a beekeeper bonuses for wind of more than 15 miles per hour.
supplying colonies above these mini- Temperatures above 100°F reduce
mum strengths. Saturation pollina- flight activity for nectar and pollen,
tion often means semistarvation for but water collection is increased.
Pesticides. Bees provided for pol- Moving hives
lination services need maximum pro-
tection from damage by pesticides. There are very few places in Cali-
Loss of a portion or all of the forag- fornia where colonies can be main-
ing bees reduces the amount of tained year-round without encoun-
incoming food; decreased brood pro- tering prolonged periods of lack of
duction results. Pollen demand is forage. Therefore, in California many
reduced and pollination decreases. migratory beekeepers have devel-
Economic losses to the grower and to oped efficient methods for handling
the beekeeper are certainties. Dam- and moving large numbers of colo-
aged colonies may not really recover nies. Generally, bees are moved dur-
for months, even if they survive the ing the night with little or no special
initial effects of insecticide precautions taken to confine bees to
poisoning. their hives.
Bees placed in orchards or fields Beekeepers who must spend time
sometimes are exposed to pesticides loading and unloading hives usually
applied directly to the bloom upon modify their equipment to ease the
which they are supposed to be work- strain on their backs. Beekeepers
ing. Often, too, an application is with small numbers of hives may use
made to adjacent crops where a com- powerlift tailgates or small booms on
peting crop or weed bloom is attract- small flatbed or pickup trucks. Many
ing bees. Beekeepers can avoid or larger operators have large mechani-
reduce loss by becoming familiar cal or hydraulic booms capable of
with area pesticide use practices and lifting two hives at a time (Plate I).
placing their bees when they feel it is Booms that can be leveled hydrauli-
safe. The grower may have to talk to cally or that are hinged along the
several pesticide-using neighbors if boom add flexibility to the system.
the beekeeper believes that nearby In the other major method of
pesticide use is endangering the crop moving large groups of hives, four
to be pollinated. or six hives are fastened to a pallet
The California Department of that also serves as a bottom board for
Food and Agriculture has formulated the hives. Pallets of hives can be
regulations to aid bee protection, but stacked two-high and loaded with a
maximum protection can be obtained forklift onto a large flatbed truck.
only when beekeepers, growers and Forklifts are used for distributing
their neighbors, pest control advi- hives in and around fields for polli-
sors, and applicators work closely nation services. Small forklifts are
together. Information concerning hauled on trailers. Large forklifts,
comparative toxicities of pesticides to modified from four-wheel drive
honey bees, residual effects, best for- trucks, can handle four pallets at a
mulations, and proper timing of time and can be towed by flatbed
applications is available from the trucks. Diesel equipment is used
University of California Cooperative when it can be afforded.
Extension.
Producing and
Marketing Honey
The 1967 Agricultural Code of tant in determining the market value
California defines honey as: ". . .the of honey-lighter colors usually
nectar of floral exudations of plants bring higher prices. Color varies
gathered and stored in the comb by from nearly colorless through shades
honey bees. It is levorotatory, con- of yellows, amber, and brown with
tains not more than twenty-five one greenish tinges, to deep red (Plate I).
hundredths (0.25)of 1 percent ash, Honey from the same floral sources
not more than eight (8) percent of may vary in color, and variation in
sucrose, its specific gravity is not less color may result from overheating in
than 1.412, its weight not less than processing; for example, honeys
eleven (11) pounds, twelve (12) darken if heated too much or too
ounces per standard gallon of 231 long. Color is measured by the
cubic inches at sixty-eight degrees Pfund grader or the USDA Color
Fahrenheit ." comparator. These graders tell bee-
Honey is composed largely of two keepers the commercial color classifi-
simple sugars (glucose and fructose) cation of honey: water white, extra
and enzymes, vitamins, minerals, white, white, extra light amber, light
and substances producing character- amber, amber, or dark.
istic flavors. California honeys aver- Honey is classified according to
age about 17 percent water. Most floral source, method of production,
honey sold in California is one of and USDA grades. The two most
three types: extracted (liquid), comb popular floral honeys produced in
section, or crystallized (creamed or California are sage and orange
spun). honey. Other maior floral sources
To be sold in California, honey are: cotton, lima beans, alfalfa, yel-
must meet certain standards as low starthistle, wild buckwheat (of
defined in the Agricultural Code the genus Eriogonum), manzanita,
(obtainable from California Depart- eucalyptus, and bluecurls. In recent
ment of Agriculture, Bureau of Fruit years safflower honey has been pro-
and Vegetable Standardization, Sac- duced in quantity.
ramento, CA 95814). Color is impor-
of honey to handle individually, bees
Marketing will remove themselves from supers
of fully capped honey in a day or
Beekeepers can sell their honey two through bee escape (one-way
from their homes, from roadside exit) boards (fig. 7). Place the honey
stands on their property, directly to a supers above the escape board and
customer, to a wholesaler in 5-gallon smoke the bees gently to get them
containers or 55-gallon drums, or moving. Two precautions:
through a co-op. Cooperative mar-
keting offers certain advantages to (1) Be sure all cracks and holes are
beekeepers because a cooperative sealed or the honey will be robbed.
can control a certain proportion of (2) Be sure outdoor temperatures
the total crop and thus increase will stay below 100°F or unattended
members' chances for fair prices. combs may melt in the hive.
The U.S. Price Support Program
(through1989) includes a minimum Beekeepers who wish to remove
base price for honey at the wholesale large amounts of honey rapidly
level. Support prices vary from year should refer to the section on large-
to year. For information on this pro- scale harvesting.
gram, inquire at the county offices of Preparing honey for storage. Bee-
the Agricultural Stabilization and keepers without access to extracting
Conservation Service (ASCS). The equipment can still prepare their
state marketing order for honey is honey in manners attractive to con-
administered by the California Direc- sumers. With thin foundations,
tor of Food and Agriculture through combs can be cut (called "cut comb
the California Honey Advisory Board honey") easily with a warm, sharp
whose chief function is promoting knife into shapes that can be placed
the use of honey. into special honey cartons or clear
plastic bags after draining on each
Small-scale harvesting
When combs in a super have been
filled and capped (two-thirds of cells
capped is adequate in a low-humid-
ity environment), the beekeeper may
remove a comb or super(s) of combs
for harvesting. Be sure to leave the
bees one full super of honey and
stored pollen for winter feed.
Bees may be removed from each
frame by shaking and brushing the
bees (with a special bee brush) back
into the hive. Frames should be
placed in an empty super, sitting on
a pallet to keep the combs clean, and Fig. 7 Left: Top and bottom of bee escape board;
bees enter round hole in bee escape and exit
covered with a damp cloth to through narrow ends. Right: Top and bottom
exclude robbing bees. view of acid board, showing burlap lining on
When there are too many combs bottom section.
side for 24 hours. These pieces of cut nies usually can be handled by a
comb or comb sections (that are pro- two- to four-frame extractor operated
duced in special square or round by hand or by a small electric motor.
compartments placed in the hives- Before centrifugation in the
see the section on honey products extractor, cappings must be shaved
below) and whole frames of honey from the combs with a heated knife.
can be held without granulation in a Thermostatically controlled electric
deep freezer for long periods. Pieces knives are availible. The cappings,
of cut comb can be placed in bottles half wax and half honey, may be bot-
and surrounded with extracted tled and consumed as is (reported
honey; these are called "chunk useful by some people for hay fever
honey" packs. relief) or rendered to save the wax.
Beekeepers who wish to extract Honey flowing from the extractor
liquid honey from combs should use should be strained first through a
an extractor (fig. 8). Other methods coarse mesh, and then through a
involving chopping, squeezing, or fine mesh (such as a clean nylon
heating combs to the melting point stocking) to remove visible particles
of beeswax usually are considered of wax, propolis, or other matter. For
too messy and wasteful to be worth- best appearance, the honey should
while. Honey produced by 20 colo- flow along a flat surface leading to
Fig. 8 Honey extracting equipment for a small- to moderate-sized beekeeping operation. (A) uncapping
tray: (B)uncapping basket; (C) extractor; (D) clarifier; (El) float switch; (F) pump; (G)filter unit; (H)
bottling tank; (I) plastic pipe-pump to filter; (J)filtered honey to bottling unit; (K) overflow from filter,
and (L)pipe from tray to clarifer.
the bottom of the containers. Honey being extracted. Thick, western hon-
that flows as a stream or drips into eys flow much better when extracted
itself incorporates air and appears at temperatures between 90° and
somewhat cloudy. Honey handled 100 ° F. Nearly all beekeepers use
properly has a clean appearance, full mechanical uncappers of one type or
flavor, and all its nutrients intact. another. Uncapped frames are
Rendering beeswax. For small moved by chains to the vicinity of
operations, a solar wax melter is the the extractors. Radial extractors,
simplest and most economical way which spin in a horizontal or vertical
of rendering wax from well drained plane and hold 100 to 350 frames, are
cappings and chunks of comb that most common.
accumulate over time. Proceeding from this point in the
process, "variety" best describes
how the cappings and extracted
Large-scale harvesting honey are handled. With one
method, all the wax and honey are
Most beekeepers in California combined and pumped through a
who remove large quantities of heater and honey separator, which
honey use "acid boards," named for spins the honey away from the wax.
carbolic acid which no longer may be Knives in the spinner shave the wax
used for that purpose. Now, ben- into bits that fall into a barrel.
zaldehyde (oil of bitter almonds) or In many operations, the cappings
diluted butyric anhydride is used to are routed one way by augers, con-
moisten the acid board (fig. 7) that is veyor belts, or gravity, while the
placed directly on top of the super to honey is strained and pumped
be emptied. Benzaldehyde is said to through a second system into set-
work better at lower temperatures tling tanks. The honey is left in the
(60° to 80°F); butyric anhydride is tanks a day or two to allow wax and
better on hot days (80° to 100 °F). bubbles to rise to the surface; then it
Five minutes should clear the super. is drawn off from the bottom of the
Stupified bees signal overdosing; settling tanks into drums, cans, or
residual bees indicate under-dosing. bottles. Honey stores best at temper-
Be sure to follow label directions and atures around 70°F. All types, except
avoid contacting the chemicals or sage, will granulate in containers
allowing them to contaminate the over time, especially at temperatures
honey. around 55°F.
A few beekeepers prefer to use Cappings contain valuable bees-
bee blowers to empty the supers of wax, so various methods are used to
bees. A large volume of low velocity separate the wax from the honey and
air is used to blow bees down a slumgum. One method is to uncap
chute onto the ground by the hive the combs directly into a cappings
entrance. Very few bees take flight, melter, a water-jacketed tank with
become injured or angered, and fully heating coils inside and sometimes
capped supers are cleared very heating coils in the cover. The object
quickly. is to melt the wax at about the same
Extracting honey. Supers of speed it is being uncapped. The wax
honey frequently are stored in a "hot floats above the honey and
room" in the warehouse before slumgum, and the levels of honey
and wax are adjusted by opening Commercial beekeepers should
and closing taps leading from the use stainless steel equipment to
melter. process honey. Honey is acid, even if
Most of the honey can be it does not taste acidic, and can rap-
removed from cappings by a cap- idly corrode many metals and unpro-
pings spinner, which is similar to a tected cement floors.
radial extractor but contains a wire-
mesh basket. Cappings are added
gradually, until the wax builds up to Honey products
the point that it has to be removed.
Lining the basket with pieces of Comb honey. This product is pro-
nylon fabric eases wax removal. duced in basswood square-section
A number of beekeepers just col- boxes sized 41/4 x 41/4 x 17/8inches, in
lect the cappings in barrels and even- rectangular boxes 4 x 5 x 13/8 inches,
tually move them into the oven, a or in round plastic rings that are
thermostatically controlled, large, placed in special comb-honey supers
insulated box built in the ware- (normal frames are not used in these
house's hot room. The temperature supers). The exposed surfaces of
is maintained at about 150°F and the wooden sections should be painted
wax and honey separate in the bar- with hot paraffin after they have
rels. The beeswax can be ladled off in been positioned in the supers to pre-
a relatively pure state. vent bees from staining the boxes
A few commercial operations with propolis. Overlapping honey
have heated wax presses to extract flows of light and dark honey should
wax that otherwise would adhere to be avoided for comb honey produc-
cocoons in brood combs. Area bee- tion because combs partly filled with
keepers bring barrels of slumgum dark and light honey are less attrac-
and old wax to these operations peri- tive to consumers.
odically for processing.
HONEYDEW HONEY
Honeydew honey, which is not true honey, originates from a sweet
liquid excreted by scale insects and plant lice or aphids. In California,
one kind of honeydew honey is derived from a scale insect on incense
cedar. Another honeydew honey in California is derived from galls
on valley oaks. These galls secrete a sugary material on their exterior
walls that is collected by honey bees and stored in the same manner as
honey. Major honeydew honey crops have been recorded periodically
from valley oaks in the foothills on the west side of the Sacramento Val-
ley for 50 years. Germany is the major market for this hive product.
Comb honey production is diffi- full of honey should be separated
cult because the nectar flow has to be into groups by weight and appear-
constant and abundant to produce ance, and the weight and grade of
combs of good quality, and because each section must be listed on its
colonies have to be crowded to the label. The boxes should then be indi-
swarming point before bees will go vidually wrapped in plastic wrappers
into the comb-honey boxes. For best and sealed against dust and insects
results, there should be enough bees (plastic wrappings are available from
in the colony to fill at least a hive bee suppliers). Comb honey is
body and a full-depth super, but all graded according to weight, condi-
should be shaken into a single box; a tion of cell caps, cleanliness, and
super of empty comb-honey section fullness of combs. Federal standards
boxes should then be added so that divide the grades into U.S. Fancy,
the bees can deposit honey in the U.S. No. 1, and U.S. No. 2. Descrip-
boxes. After the bees have started to tions of these grades are available
build comb in the super containing from the United States Department
comb-honey boxes, a second comb- of Agriculture.
honey super can be put on top. Creamed or spun honey. The
When the first combs are about objective in producing creamed or
half filled with honey, the two supers spun honey is to induce honey to
should be reversed to finish the first granulate into such fine crystals that
combs (this usually increases honey they are undetectable when eaten.
production). A third comb-honey Light-colored honeys appear even
super may be placed on top, if the lighter when processed by this
honey flow is extremely good and method, so removal of all particulate
the bees need more space. This can contamination is mandatory.
be repeated as long as the nectar For best results, adjust moisture
flow continues and as often as is level of honey to 17 or 17.5 percent.
needed to give the bees more room Heat honey in a water bath to 140°F
in which to work without providing to dissolve any natural sugar crystals
more sections than the nectar flow and to destroy naturally occurring
warrants. (If queen cells are present yeasts. Pour the honey through a
in such a colony, they should be fine-mesh strainer (equivalent to a
removed to prevent swarming; the nylon stocking's mesh) and cool
colony that continues to produce quickly to 80°F to avoid darkening
queen cells may be indicating that it the honey. Add 10 percent starter,
is attempting to supersede the old which is good creamed honey, and
queen. Therefore, it may be neces- stir to blend evenly. Try to avoid
sary to kill the old queen and intro- incorporating air into the mixture
duce a new one.) because bubbles will cause craters on
Supers full of comb-honey boxes the surface of the creamed honey
should be removed as soon as the later. Pour into containers, cover,
sections are completely filled and the and let stand at 55 °F. In a week the
cells are sealed. Near the end of the honey will become very firm. To
nectar flow the comb-honey supers soften, place at 80°F. To store for a
should be removed to permit the col- length of time, refrigerate or freeze
ony to store enough honey in the creamed honey.
hive for winter. Comb section boxes
Commercial Queen Rearing
Rearing queens assured by removing much of the
current young brood a few hours
Rearing queen bees on a commer- before grafting. A day or two before
cial scale is centered primarily in the grafting, a comb with pollen should
Sacramento Valley, which produces be placed in the colony next to the
approximately 600,000 queens and space to be occupied by grafted cells.
900,000 pounds of packaged bees Sugar syrup can be fed in a Board-
annually for U. S., Canadian, and man feeder or by inverting a friction
foreign markets. Skilled beekeepers top pail with several small holes in
with many years of experience rear the lid over the occupied frames and
queens, but the following common inside an empty hive body.
commercial procedures can be modi- To start this procedure, up to 15
fied to suit smaller operations. empty cell cups are attached to
Queens are produced by placing wooden bars approximately 17 1/4
(grafting) 1-day-old larvae into queen inches in length, which fit into
cell cups made of beeswax or plastic 3/16-inchslots cut in the interior sides
(fig. 9), and then putting the cups
into a functionally or literally queen-
less cell-builder colony. Young
worker bees will feed royal jelly to
the larvae until they become pupae,
thus assuring that they will develop
into queens, not workers.
Almost any colony can be
induced to build queen cells, but the
quality of queens depends on the
care the developing larvae receive.
To produce good queens, a colony
must have an abundance of nurse
bees, pollen, and honey or sugar
syrup. Nurse bees can be provided
by making sure the colony has a
comb of emerging brood a week Fig. 9 Grafting larvae from comb into queen-cell
before grafted cells are given to it. cups. Good lighting, temperature, and humidity
An ample supply of royal jelly can be control are required.
of end bars of a standard frame. The chicken-egg incubator will do) kept
cell cups on the bars then are taken at about 91° to 93°F and a relative
to a well lit room with environmental humidity of about 50 percent. Ten
conditions suitable for the grafting. days after grafting, the queen cell is
Room temperature should be at least placed in a small mating hive
75°F and the humidity around 50 (nucleus or "nuc") containing at
percent to prevent larvae and royal least a quarter pound of bees. The
jelly from drying out. Bright light is bees will take care of the cell until
important to locating and removing the queen emerges. About 7 days
larvae from the combs. A supply of after emerging, the queen flies out
royal jelly (diluted with an equal vol- and mates with at least ten drones.
ume of warm water and stirred until When the queen mates (in flight),
it has an even consistency) and a semen from the drones is deposited
comb of day-old larvae should be in her oviducts. The sperm migrate
available. A small drop of diluted into the spermatheca during the next
jelly is placed in the bottom of each 15 hours and remain there until used
cell cup and a larva is placed on the or until the queen lives out her life.
drop. Be sure not to roll the larva The movement of the sperm from
over. This operation is repeated until the oviducts to the spermatheca is
each cell cup contains a larva. The slowed by temperatures below 80°F.
diluted royal jelly keeps the larva Therefore. it is important that the
moist and well fed. Up to 45 grafted nuclei or colonies'be strong enough
cell cups are placed in the cell- to maintain a temperature at least
builder colony, which should be well this high in the brood area after the
supplied with sugar syrup or honey, queen returns from her mating
and pollen. flight. Newly mated queens begin to
After 9 days in the cell-builder lay eggs in 3 or 4 days. The bee-
colony, the cell cups, containing keeper then removes the queen from
capped queen pupae (fig. 10), are the nucleus and cages her for ship-
placed in an incubator (a modified ment to a customer.
During shipment to a customer,
the queen can be in a cage, along
with a few attendant bees and asup-
ply of queen "candy" for food. In a
shipment of a queen and enough
bees for a colony, the queen is sent
alone in an empty cage placed in the
package full of bees. The package
contains a can of sugar syrup. The
bees will feed the queen through the
wires that enclose her cage.
39
brood rearing and four frames for jars and refrigerated at 40°F. Usually,
royal jelly production. To create a jelly is shipped to the buyer as soon
division, a sheet of window-screen as possible after harvest and by the
wire and a sheet of plastic are fas- fastest transportation possible.
tened to a strip of 1/8-inch by 1-inch
wood so that the wood is between (2)Another setup consists of a two-
them. The wooden strip, screen, and story hive, with the previously
plastic each should be long enough described one-story hive used as the
to extend the complete length upper story (or super) above a queen
between the front and back walls of excluder; each story has its own
the hive body. The screen should be queen. Under these conditions addi-
long enough to reach the bottom tional nurse bees can move up from
board, and the plastic should be long the bottom hive to help rear the cells.
enough to cover the top bars of five (3) A two-story hive has a queen and
adjacent frames. The long side of the a colony of bees in the lower hive
screen and the plastic should be fas- body, separated from the super by a
tened to the wood. queen excluder. An open wooden
After the frames are moved to the rectangle (made of 1-inch stock) with
appropriate positions and the worker outside dimensions identical to the
bees have an opportunity to reposi- hive body is placed above the queen
tion themselves, the screen is excluder and a super is placed on it.
inserted between the fifth and sixth This holds the bottom of the frames
frames, and the plastic sheet is laid in the super an extra inch above the
over the five frames upon which the top bars of the frames in the hive
queen is allowed to roam. This keeps body, and thus reduces the probabil-
her from moving to the adjacent ity of crushing bees when frames are
group of four frames where royal placed in the super. Nine frames are
jelly is to be produced. The four used in the super. The center frame
frames on the royal jelly side consist has a bar with 15 to 20 grafted cells
of two outer frames of honey and on it for jelly production. On each
pollen, one inner frame of open side of this frame is a frame of open
(young, uncapped) brood, and brood and nurse bees. The other six
another inner frame containing a bar frames are for honey and pollen.
upon which have been grafted 15 to Regardless of the setup used, the
20 queen cells. colony must be managed in certain
The nurse bees of the colony will ways for maximum production:
be stimulated to secrete royal jelly to
feed the larvae in the queen cells as Frames of originally open brood
well as the uncapped brood in the on either side of the frame holding
adjacent frame. The frame holding the bar of grafted cells must be
the grafted cells should be removed replaced with new frames of open
on the fourth day after the grafts brood at least every 14 days, or after
have been placed in position. The every fourth graft. To produce open
cells are then trimmed down to the brood, frames with empty cells are
level of the royal jelly they contain placed in the brood nest area of the
and the larvae removed. An aspira- queenright portion of the hive.
tor is used to remove the royal jelly A residue of jelly is left in each
from the cells. The jelly is packaged cell when the jelly is harvested. A
in 1-pound, airtight Opalite ointment drop of royal jelly diluted by one-
half with water is placed on the resi- bees as are pollens that are contami-
due of jelly in the cell before grafting nated with pesticide residues.
because the larvae float off the graft- Pollen is carried to the hive in
ing tool more easily onto this diluted ball-like pellets on the hind legs of
drop. foraging bees. A portion of the pol-
len pellets may be harvested by plac-
The cells producing royal jelly
ing a pollen trap on a hive. Gener-
should be grafted again as soon as
ally, the hive is rearranged so that
possible after the previous jelly has
the pollen trap serves as the
been harvested.
entrance; it may be located at the
Larvae are grafted from frames of bottom, middle, or top of the hive.
brood borrowed from the queenright After the bees become accustomed to
section of the royal jelly producing the new entrance, a sieve of two lay-
colonies. ers of 5-mesh hardware cloth, sepa-
The queen sometimes cannot pro- rated by inch and with holes off-
duce enough nurse bees, but this can set, or a perforated (3/16-inch holes
be corrected by requeening with a on staggered centers) metal plate, is
more prolific queen. More bees can positioned in the trap. The sieve
be added by placing combs of emerg- knocks off some of the pellets that
ing bees from other colonies into fall into a collection tray. The tray
weak colonies. should be equipped in some manner
to reduce the moisture content of
Each colony should be harvested incoming pellets (often a screen or
every fourth day. One pound of cloth bottom) and should have an 8-
royal jelly per 200 colonies is usually mesh, thin wire, hardware cloth
produced under the best conditions, cover to prevent bees from entering
which are the same as those for and recovering the pollen. Pollen
honey production. traps may be purchased from suppli-
For best quality, royal jelly should ers of beekeeping equipment, but
be shipped as quickly as possible many individuals prefer to design
after production. their own.
Pollen traps should be used only
during heavy pollen flows. At the
hive, bees will increase emphasis on
Harvesting pollen pollen collecting to make up for what
is lost, but this is possible only when
Bee-collected pollen has a number there is spare pollen within flight
of uses besides providing nutrients range.
to bees. Pollen has become a perma- Pollen pellets should be removed
nent supplement in many peoples' from the traps every 2 or 3 days. The
diets. Extracts of pollens are impor- pellets should be spread out and
tant in desensitization to hay fever. allowed to air dry for 24 hours to
Pollen-collecting activities of bees reduce the potential for mold
can be monitored to determine effi- growth. Then the pollen can be
ciencies of colonies used for pollina- placed in containers and stored at
tion services. It should be noted, O°F. Freezing increases the storage
however, that any pollens that con- life of the product well over a year
tain toxicants should be avoided. and eliminates all stages of stored
California buckeye pollen is toxic to product insects, which can become a
serious problem. Frozen pollen ture to within a 1/2-inch layer of the
becomes moist and crumbly when top of the storage container, cover
thawed and should be used immedi- the mixture with a 1/2-inch layer of
ately upon removal from the freezer. sugar, and seal airtight. Pollen stored
An alternative method for storing mixed with sugar remains soft and
pollen, developed at the University moist and can be formed into cakes
of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, is to and fed directly to bees or mixed into
mix the pollen with half its weight of a pollen supplement.
fine granulated sugar. Pack the mix-
43
Wild Plant Sources of Both Nectar and Pollen* (continued)
Time of Color of
Plant Where found bloom honey
Mesquite (Prosopis Washes below 3,000 feet; Colorado and Mojave deserts, April to Light amber
glandulosa Torr. var. San Joaquin Valley, and interior valleys from Santa June
torreyana (L. Bensonl Barbara County to San Diego County.
M. C. Jtn.)
Mountain misery Open forest, 2,000 to 7,000 feet; Shasta County to Kern May to Amber
(Chamaebatia foliolosa County. July
Benth.)
Mustard (Brassica spp.) Weeds of orchards, open grassy slopes, and waste January t o Light amber
places; throughout cismontane California. Limited by May
weed control.
Poison oak (Rhus Low places, thickets, and wooded slopes, below 5,000 April t o White
diversiloba T. & G. ) feet; throughout cismontane California. May
Rabbit brush Dry, open plains, and mountainsides, 2,500 to 9,500 September Light amber
(Chrysothamnus feet. Mostly in transmontane California. t o October
nauseosus [Pall.] Britt.)
Sage, black (Salvia Dry slopes, below 2,000 feet; Coast Ranges from April to Water white
mellifera Greene) Monterey Bay to San Diego County. July
Sage, Sonoma [creeping] Dry slopes, below 6,500 feet; foothills of Sierra Nevada May to White
(Salvia sonomensis from Shasta County to Calaveras County, and Coast June
Greene) Ranges from Siskiyou County to Napa County, plus
Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and San Diego counties.
Sage, white (Salvia Dry slopes, below 5,000 feet; Santa Barbara County April to Water white
apiana Jeps. ) south to San Diego County July
Sage, white leaf [purple] Dry slopes, below 2,000 feet; Orange County north to May to Water white
(Salvia leucophylla Monterey and Kern counties. July
Greene)
Sages other than black, Mountain ranges and foothills throughout California, Spring and Water white
Sonoma and white leaf mostly below 5,000 feet. summer
(Salvia spp.)
Spikeweed and tarweed Dry, open slopes and grassy fields below 3,000 feet; April to Light amber
(Hemizonia spp.) throughout cismontane California. November to amber
Starthistle, yellow Widely distributed weed. Limited by extensive weed May to White to
( Cenraureasolstirialis L. ) control program. Was widely spread in Sacramento Valley. October extra light
amber
Sumac, laurel (Rhus Dry slopes, below 3,000 feet; cismontane southern June to Amber
laurina Nutt.) California from Santa Barbara County to San Diego July
County.
Toyon ( Hereromeles Brushy slopes and canyons below 4,000 feet; foothills June to Amber
arburifolia M . Roem . ) and mountains of cismontane California. July
Wild lilac (Ceanothus Dry slopes, often rocky or wooded, mostly below 6,000 March to White
spp.) feet; foothills and mountains of cismontane California. July
Willow (Salk spp.) Streambanks, meadows, and w e t places; throughout January t o Amber
California. July
"See California Flara, Munzand Keck, 1959. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Bee Diseases
Bee diseases are specific to either readilv only after the adult bees have
the brood or adult bees. Brood dis- been shaken off the comb.
eases generally are considered more A comb being examined should
detrimental to the colony than are be tilted so that direct sunlight illu-
adult diseases. No disease of bees minates the lower side walls and bot-
affects humans. toms of the cells. This makes it possi-
Before attempting to diagnose ble to see any disease scale that
brood diseases, the beekeeper might be present. If no dead brood is
should become familiar with the found in open or uncapped cells, it is
appearance of healthy brood in all advisable to remove any sunken, dis-
stages (Plate II). In healthy colonies colored, or punctured cappings and
there is regularity in the arrange- examine the cell contents. When
ment of eggs, open larvae, capped dead brood is found, the following
brood, and emerging bees. Healthy should be noted: position of dead
larvae in open cells are plump, glis- brood, age and type of brood
tening, and pearly white. Brood cap- affected, color, consistency, odor of
pings normally are uniform and dead brood in various stages of
raised slightly above the comb sur- decay, and position and tightness of
face. Once in place over the larvae, scales.
the cappings remain free of visible The consistency of decaying lar-
holes until emerging bees cut their vae is important in disease diagno-
way out of the cells. sis. Consistency can be determined
by stirring the decaying larva with
the larger end of a toothpick and
Brood diseases slowly withdrawing the adhering
mass, observing the texture and not-
Symptoms of brood disease gen- ing whether the material can be
erally first become noticeable in stretched out into a thick thread.
combs containing mature brood This threadlike property is termed
where young bees are emerging or in ropiness. Used toothpicks should be
combs containing more than one burned in the smoker or wrapped in
cycle of brood. Symptoms also may wax paper and sent to the California
be found in brood combs of a hive in Department of Food and Agriculture
which the colony has died of a brood for analysis, if American foulbrood is
disease. Symptoms can be observed suspected.
American foulbrood (AFB).This, brood food and the larvae become
the most serious larval bee disease in infected. Nectar, honey, and pollen
North America, is found in Califor- collected from hives in which the
nia and at times has made commer- bees are infected with AFB are con-
cial beekeeping unprofitable in some taminated with spores and may
areas. Colonies should be inspected cause disease if given to a healthy
periodically for this disease. colony.
Larvae dead of AFB lie fully out- American foulbrood is persistent,
stretched on the lower cell walls and infected colonies soon become
(Plate II) Pupae also may be killed unable to rear enough healthy brood
and usually die with their "tongues" to maintain colony populations. As
stretched vertically across the cells. infection progresses, the colony is
Diseased larvae or pupae gradually weakened, honey and combs in a
change color from white, through diseased colony become heavily con-
butterscotch, to dark coffee brown, taminated with spores, and the dis-
and finally dry to become thin scales ease is spread when robbing bees
that adhere tightly to lower cell bring contaminated honey back to
walls. Decaying brood is slimy and neighboring colonies. Thus, diseased
ropy, and a burned odor is often colonies constitute a serious menace
noticeable. in any area where bees are kept.
American foulbrood is caused by To control AFB and prevent its
a bacterium, Bacillus larvae White. spread, colonies must be inspected
Spores enter the bee larva in contam- regularly and diseased colonies must
inated food, and bacteria resulting be destroved. After the disease has
from these spores multiply and kill been discovered and abated in an
the larva in its cell, usually just after apiary, the remaining colonies
the cell has been capped. The bacte- should be thoroughly examined
ria continue to multiply in the dead again in 30 to 60 days. A beekeeper
tissues and cause decay. As the not experienced in AFB abatement
decaying mass dries, the bacteria who finds signs of this disease
transform into highly infectious should contact the county agricul-
spores, billions of which may be con- tural commissioner immediately to
tained in a single dried scale. Spores obtain assistance.
of B. larvae are extremely resistant to Drugs may be fed to colonies not
high and low temperatures, to chem- showing AFB disease symptoms as
ical disinfectants, and to the dehy- an aid in preventing the disease. Ter-
drating action of honey that nor- ramycin is registered for such use
mally kills bacteria. The spores can and has appropriate directions on
remain alive and infectious for dec- the container label. It is illegal in Cal-
ades in honey, in combs, and on ifornia to medicate or otherwise
used equipment. maintain an AFB-diseased colony of
The disease is spread within the bees.
colony by adult bees whose European foulbrood (EFB).This
mouthparts are contaminated from disease, which occurs in some parts
working with nectar or honey con- of California, can seriously cripple a
taining spores, or by attempts to colony. Strong colonies can usually
remove diseased brood. Spores from recover.
contaminated mouthparts of nurse Larvae dead of EFB are coiled in
bees are incorporated into larval the cell bottoms or are twisted across
the lower cell wall; occasionally, they vae dead with parafoulbrood typi-
die in an outstretched position. Dis- cally lie twisted across the lower cell
eased larvae first turn yellow, then walls, although sometimes those
brown, and finally dry to form dark, lying in a normal coiled position may
irregularly shaped scales that are also be dead. Occasionally, older lar-
easily removed from the cells. vae in sealed cells are killed and lie
Decaying larvae have a wet, paste- outstretched. The decaying mass has
like consistency; sometimes exhibit a a reddish brown color, and the tex-
degree of ropiness; dry to form ture usually is moist and pasty or
scales closely resembling those of gummy; occasionally, there is ropi-
AFB disease, and give off a sour ness. This disease is easily confused
odor. Pupae rarely are affected. It is with either AFB or EFB and some-
rare that a larva, dead of EFB, is times appears to be a mixture of the
found with the head upstretched to two.
resemble the tongue mentioned in Sacbrood. Sacbrood seldom
the previous discussion of American results in more than slight damage to
foulbrood. colonies. Larvae killed by the disease
Sometimes EFB appears suddenly lie fully outstretched on the lower
and spreads rapidly through colo- cell walls and are usually yellow or
nies. This is most likely to occur in brown and darker at the head end.
spring after the first or second brood The larval skin remains intact, and
cycle and during a pollen dearth. At the body contents become watery,
other times, it may spread slowly making it possible to remove dis-
and do little damage. A good nectar eased larvae intact as a fluid-filled
flow seems to hasten recovery. The sac. The odor is sour. Scales are
disease usually subsides by midsum- brown and wrinkled with turned-up
mer, but occasionally remains active ends, and they are easily removed.
during summer and fall; or it may Sacbrood is more prevalent in spring
seem to disappear and then reappear but usually clears up with a good
in fall. Terramycin is registered for nectar flow. Colonies in which the
use in treating EFB-diseased colo- disease persists can be requeened
nies. Label directions must be fol- with resistant stock or united with
lowed closely to avoid injury to stronger colonies after killing the
brood or contamination of honey. susceptible queen.
European foulbrood often can be
controlled by dequeening the dis-
eased colony for 10 days, which Adult bee diseases
breaks the brood-rearing cycle and
gives the bees an opportunity to There are two major diseases of
clean diseased brood from the cells. adult bees, nosema disease and
The colony then can be requeened paralysis. Nosema disease is
and more bees added, or it can be endemic in many colonies, but its
united with a stronger colony after detrimental effects are very subtle.
the 10-day period. This treatment Paralysis occurs sporadically with
frequently is also effective against symptoms very similar to insecticide
parafoulbrood. poisoning.
Parafoulbrood. Occasionally Nosema. Caused by a microscopic
found in California, parafoulbrood is protozoan, Nosema apis Zander, this
comparable to EFB in its effect. Lar- disease seldom causes mortality. The
only reliable way to determine Paralysis. Paralysis disease is
whether Nosema is present in a col- widely distributed in California. It
ony is to submit a sample of bees for seldom causes serious damage,
laboratory examination. Nosema except occasionally in southern Cali-
infections become much more severe fornia, and affected colonies usually
during bad weather, when bees are recover.
confined to hives. An infected col- Diseased bees may be seen on top
ony may become seriously weakened bars or at the colony entrance. Typi-
during the critical population cally, they are weak, they shiver or
buildup period in spring. Infected tremble, and they are unable to fly or
bees have their lives shortened as walk in a coordinated manner. Fre-
much as 40 percent, even though quently their legs are widely
they appear to forage normally until sprawled, their wings disconnected,
shortly before death. More impor- and their bodies hairless, with a
tantly, however, infected nurse bees dark, greasy appearance. They have
rapidly lose the ability to produce a distinct and repulsive odor.
the royal jelly required to feed the Paralysis is a mildly infectious
queen, the brood, and the drones. virus disease transmitted directly
Lack of royal jelly leads to popula- from sick to healthy bees. Colonies
tion stagnation or decline during in which the disease seems to persist
periods of anticipated population should be requeened with a less sus-
explosion, even when there is an ceptible stock.
abundance of spring pollen and nec-
tar sources. These negative effects
often are referred to as "spring Honey bee parasitic mites
dwindling." Severe infections can
lead to off-season (winter) superse- The federal Bee Importation Act
dures that produce drone layers of 1922 prohibited further importa-
(permanently virgin queens) or tion of live honey bees into the U.S.
queenlessness by the next spring. The Act was passed in response to
Losses from Nosema are not concern about a devastating loss of
always immediately apparent, as it is bees in Europe that was associated
common for infected bees to die with the presence of microscopic
away from the hive. It usually is too mites in the thoracic tracheae of the
late to apply effective control when bees. The impact of infestation by
signs of the disease are seen, so pre- the tracheal mite, Acarapis woodi,
vention is the only alternative. which was detected in the U.S. in
Fumagillin, sold under various trade 1984, appears to vary, depending
names, is registered for preventive upon the stocks of bees and environ-
treatments. The disease may be held mental conditions. In California,
to a minimum by keeping colonies quarantine regulations are in effect
strong and by overwintering them in to keep the tracheal mite out of
locations sheltered from wind and northern California. Check with your
open to maximum sunshine. Con- county agricultural commissioner
finement of bees, pollen shortage, about regulations, because they
unripened winter feed, chilling, and change periodically.
frequent handling can accelerate Varroa jacobsoni, a larger external
buildup of Nosema. parasitic mite of larval, pupal, and
adult honey bees, has eventually tive to European bees than is Acara-
made its way from the Far East (orig- pis woodi, particularly since it dam-
inally hosted by Apis cerana) to South ages brood in addition to feeding on
America. This reddish brown little adult bees. Every effort is being
mite, shaped like a crab with no big made to keep this parasite out of the
pincers, appears to be more destruc- U.S.
queen may resume normal egg lay- cluster in the hive to contract and no
ing, if the colony is moved from the longer cover brood in peripheral por-
buckeye area. tions of the brood-rearing area. Chill-
Honey produced from California ing also can result from separating
buckeye is not poisonous to humans. brood combs from the main brood-
(Oddly enough, neither is honey rearing areas or from neglect by
produced from poison oak.) worker bees if too many bees are lost
to pesticides or other causes. Brood
dead from chilling or starvation will
Brood disorders be found in a clearly defined area,
not scattered among healthy brood.
Chilled or starved brood. Chilling All stages of brood in the affected
usually occurs in early spring when a area will be dead. Dead brood is
severe drop in temperature follows gray, brown, or black and has a
warm weather - this causes the bee slightly sour odor; it is easily
removed from cells. Symptoms usu- indigestible food during a prolonged
ally disappear with warmer weather, period of confinement. The most
with supplemental feeding, or with noticeable sign of dysentery is fecal
the beginning of a nectar flow. matter in the hive or around the
Overheated brood. Brood dead entrance, as bees normally void their
from overheating resembles brood body wastes while in flight outside
dead from chilling or starvation. the hive. Honeydew, unripened
When such brood is found at the honey, overheated honeys, or fer-
same time that older larvae are menting sugar syrup are unsuitable
observed crawling outside their cells, as feed and will cause dysentery if
overheating has occurred. To prevent bees are unable to make frequent
this, bees should have adequate ven- flights to void body wastes (as is
tilation, an ample supply of water, common in winter).
and shade. Starvation. Starvation is a major
Dead drone brood in worker cause of colony loss in winter and
cells. If a queen bee lacks sperm, she spring, but can occur at any time of
will lay only drone-producing (unfer- the year. Conclusive proof of starva-
tilized) eggs. If no queen is present, tion is the presence of clusters of
worker bees sometimes will lay eggs, dead bees, stuck head first in comb
but these will be unfertilized, also. cells where they have died in search
This drone brood, which occurs in of food. Often, colonies that have
irregular patches with domelike produced a large amount of early
caps, is often allowed to die. It may brood deplete their stores and die of
be found in various stages of decay, starvation during confining weather
usually in moist, pasty, brown in spring. Colonies also may starve
patches having a sweet-rotten odor. later in the season if subjected to a
prolonged dearth between nectar
flows.
Other problems The most obvious sign of
approaching starvation is loss of hive
Queenless colony. A colony with- weight or absence of sealed honey
out brood during the active season during a nectar dearth. Starving bees
normally is queenless. Queenless are restless and crawl slowly about
colonies usually become very dis- the comb as though cold, even
turbed when the hive is opened. though the weather may be warm.
Scattered cells of pollen with a Egg laying is retarded or ceases
glossy appearance, found in the area entirely, and brood is neglected and
normally occupied by brood, is the allowed to die. Cappings sometimes
typical indication of a queenless are removed and the brood eaten.
colony. Starving bees occasionally cluster in
Dysentery. This is a functional a hunger swarm, usually on or near
disorder that may result from eating the hive.
Pests of Bees
56
An Observation Beehive
Few hobbies are as exciting and as ground knowledge about the biology
educational as keeping a colony of and behavior of honey bees. Many
bees in an observation hive. The excellent books on bees are available,
behavior of bees as a social unit and and a few hours of reading some will
their elaborate means of communica- pay great dividends.
tion can be used to illustrate basic The hive itself should be located
biological concepts in teaching at all so as to permit observation from
levels from kindergarten to college. both sides. Access must be provided
Once the colony is established from the hive to the outdoors so that
behind glass walls, anyone can visu- the bees can forage for food and
ally enter the world of the honey bee water. A transparent runway
to observe the activities of an intrigu- through the wall or a window will
ing society. All of the honey bee's life provide for this. Ideally, there should
in the hive is unveiled, from egg lay- be no sidewalks or parking areas
ing by the queen to the emergence of within approximately 30 feet of the
newborn worker bees from cells in exit. Runways can be of considerable
the comb. Some bees will be seen length and can be built to turn cor-
processing pollen into bee bread, ners or curves, although bees seem
others will be converting nectar into to orient better if they can see light at
honey, and many other worker bee the runway's exit.
activities, such as cleaning the nest,
building comb, and exchanging
food, can be seen night and day. But Construction and
perhaps the most fascinating sight is mounting (fig. 14)
that of the worker bees returning
from foraging trips heavily laden Observation hives can be pur-
with brightly colored pollen pellets chased, but the hive described in this
as they enter the hive and perform text is economical and simple to con-
dances that tell other workers where struct and will accommodate four
the pollen was gathered. (As an standard full-super frames. Bees
added bonus, bees in a four-frame need this amount of space for clus-
observation hive may produce up to tering, rearing brood, and storing
20 pounds of honey annually.) food reserves.
To fully appreciate an observation Ideally, the hive base should be
hive, you should have some back- mounted rigidly to a sturdy table or
platform. Because all manipulations dow to accommodate the exit run-
of the colony must be made out- way. One solution is to replace the
doors, the mounting and runway window glass with a sheet of Plexi-
attachments should be made so that glas or plywood in which an opening
the hive can be disconnected easily. can easily be cut. For an attractive
Before the bees are installed, tempo- installation, paint all wood parts
rarily mount the hive in its perma- (except the frames) of the hive and
nent position and then construct the runway before the glass or plastic is
runway to the outdoors. Runways mounted. White observation hives
can be made with parallel wood are most attractive, but any color is
strips on a wooden floor and covered satisfactory. Paint should be dry
with glass, Plexiglas, or plastic. before bees are placed in the hive.
Fibrous material, such as cardboard,
paper, or cloth, should never be
used; bees chew through these mate- Establishing the colony
rials in a few days.
Sometimes there is a problem in Bees may be installed in the
making an opening through the win- observation hive anytime between
Fig. 14 An observation hive, with construction details. Commercial observation hives are available,
also.
early spring and midsummer. disk, exposing the candy beneath it.
Worker bees may be purchased along Place the cage inside the hive near
with the queen; approximately 3 the lower frame, making sure that
pounds of bees are sufficient. the cage's screen can be reached by
The quickest method to establish worker bees (they will have to feed
an observation hive is to put frames the queen through the screen for a
of brood and a queen from a conven- few days).
tional hive into it. Once the queen is Now shake the bees into the hive
inside the observation hive, the tem- and slide the glass wall shut. The
porarily disorganized bees (including bees will be attracted to the queen
those outside the hive) will soon find and will eat the candy that blocks her
the queen and cluster around her. exit from the queen cage, thus free-
Instead of purchasing packaged ing her. If the cage is not supplied
bees, a swarm may be captured and with candy, the queen should be
installed. During the swarming sea- released immediately. The empty
son each spring, various public agen- cage can be removed when
cies (police, fire department, county convenient.
agricultural agencies) receive numer- Transferring bees from conven-
ous requests to remove swarms, and tional hive to observation hive.
they frequently are willing to place Remove two frames of capped
applicants' names on a "swarm wait- brood, one frame of honey, and one
ing list." frame of empty comb from a conven-
Installing a swarm. Lay the tional hive (all frames should be cov-
observation hive (containing frames) ered with bees). Place them in that
on its side with the runway side up, order, bottom to top, in the observa-
propping the top of the hive on a box tion hive. Shake additional bees
approximately 1 foot high. Loosen from the conventional colony into
the plastic mounting clamps on the the observation hive. Make certain
upper glass wall and slide the glass that the queen has been transferred.
approximately 1 foot toward the hive
top. Then shake the cluster of bees
into the opening and gently slide the Maintaining the hive
glass wall into position, being careful
to avoid crushing bees. Inevitably, a After the newly established hive
few bees will not get into the hive, is mounted, a feeder containing
and these should be checked to see if sugar syrup should be provided for
the queen is among them. If the the colony. Feeders can be made by
queen is among them, she should be punching or drilling 20 to 50 small
captured and placed in the hive. holes in the lid of a pint or quart
Installing packaged bees. Prepare glass jar; the jar should then be filled
the hive as in the instructions imme- with sugar syrup and inverted over
diately above. Now, lightly sprinkle the feeding chamber. Sugar syrup
water on the wires of the package - should be made available continu-
this will calm the bees. Rap the pack- ously until all the combs are filled
age so that worker bees will fall to with honey or brood. Thereafter, the
the bottom, and then remove the colony should be fed only when its
queen cage from the package. One stored honey is gone.
end of the queen cage has a hole Under normal conditions estab-
with a cork disk over it; remove this lished colonies are self-supporting
and require little maintenance. How- side and additional ventilation ports
ever, colonies in observation hives will not be necessarv. However, if the
require special maintenance because inside of the hive walls becomes
there are fewer foragers than in the fogged for a prolonged period, addi-
regular hive. When weather condi- tional ventilation ports (3/4-inch holes
tions permit foraging flights, and covered by 8-mesh wire screen) may
nectar and pollen are available, the be provided on the top or ends of the
observation colony collects nectar hives. Healthy colonies typically are
rapidly and accumulates an abun- full of bees. and it is a mistake to
dance of honey, which reduces the suppose that bees need additional
need for maintenance. ventilation simply because they
Preparing the colony for winter. appear to be crowded.
Unless the climate permits bee flight Swarming. In spring colonies
at least once a month, it is not advis- increase rapidly in population, and
able to try to maintain an observa- swarming is therefore to be
tion colony in winter. Without peri- expected. Hobbyists may wish to
odic flights, high mortality usually study this phenomenon, but if they
occurs, and the colony may die in wish to prevent it, the easiest control
midwinter or early spring. There- is to kill the old queen (by pinching
fore, it is usually best to terminate her head) when the colony popula-
the colony in autumn after brood tion reaches its peak in spring. A
rearing has ceased (the queen can be new queen will be reared automati-
removed earlier if desired). This is cally by the bees, and the short inter-
done by shaking the bees off the ruption of brood rearing normally
observation hive frames near the stops swarming tendencies for the
entrance of a normal outdoor colony. remainder of the season.
The bees will soon be accepted into Invasion by pests. In some areas
the colony. The frames of combs ants are seriouspests of bees; colo-
from the beeless hive may then be nies invaded by ants are liable to
wrapped and stored at 0°F; this pre- become disorganized enough to stop
vents granulation of honey and normal activities. Poisonous baits for
infestation by pests during storage. ant control may be used near the col-
The following spring a colony may ony, but access by bees (or other ani-
be reestablished in the hive, using mals) to baits must be prevented by
the stored frames of comb. covering bait containers with 8-mesh
wire screens, which should be at
least 1/2 inch from the bait itself so
Problems and solutions that bees cannot reach through and
eat the bait. Do not use insecticides
Although honey bees are largely near the hive.
self-sufficient, minor difficulties may Population decline. Except for
arise occasionally. These are dis- normal seasonal fluctuations, a
cussed below. decline in bee population usually is
Sunlight. Observation hives caused by insufficient brood rearing.
should never be exposed to direct Usually, the hive population is sta-
sunlight. ble; hundreds of new bees emerge
Ventilation. Normally, the obser- each day and compensate for normal
vation hive will have adequate venti- losses (bees live 6 to 8 weeks in sum-
lation through its runway to the out- mer and up to 6 months in winter). If
brood-rearing decline is caused by an where it is disconnected from the
old and inferior queen, replacing the hive.
queen is usually the best solution Orientation of bees. Observation
(see requeening in Maintaining hive bees can become disorganized
Genetic Stock). (disoriented) when they are
Lack of food. The threat of starva- installed, or after any change in the
tion is greatest when rapid consump- arrangement of the colony runway.
tion of hive food supplies occurs Disoriented bees in a hive seem to be
during the intensive spring brood wandering about and do not perform
rearing. If the hive contains enough any of the chores they usually do.
capped cells of honey, bees will not Several days may be required for for-
starve. If capped honey is not ager bees to adjust to a new location
present, sugar syrup must be fed to or runway arrangement. Young bees
the colony. just learning to fly may be seen in
Accidential bee escapes. Because intensive flight around the hive
they are confused, bees accidentally entrance in early afternoons; this is
released indoors usually do not their method of orienting themselves
sting. However, stinging may occur to the colony in preparation for later
near the colony within a few seconds foraging.
after bees escape, particularly if Use of smoker and protective
thousands are liberated suddenly. If clothing. To control bees, a few gen-
this happens, permit the colony to tle puffs of smoke should be blown
settle down for a few minutes. After into the hive entrance just before the
the bees have become settled, the top of the hive is removed. When
hive and any adhering bees may be smoke is applied skillfully and in
gently taken outdoors. (Any bees small amounts, the risk of being
remaining in the building may be stung is minimized; however, one
caught easily with a vacuum should always move slowly and
cleaner.) Whenever the colony is car- carefully around bees - fast motion,
ried outdoors, always remember to strong vibrations, or any jarring of
plug up the runway at the point the hive excites them.
Glossary
Abate Beesting
To eliminate a (disease) problem by The apparatus at the tip of an adult
removing (often by burning) or female bee that can inject venom into
treating bees and beekeeping the victim being stung. The worker
equipment so that there is no sting remains in the victim and
possibility of contaminating other continues to inject venom; it should
bees. be scraped off sting site.
Acid board (also Fume board) Beeswax
A rimmed hive cover containing a Wax secreted by glands located on
pad of absorbent material into which the underside of four abdominal
benzadehyde or butyric anhydride segments of the honey bee. It is used
(bee repellents) is poured. Used to by bees to construct comb.
remove bees from honey supers.
Boardman feeder
Apiary A small, wooden feeder placed at the
A collection of one or more hive entrance and holding an
populated beehives at a certain inverted pint or quart glass jar of
location. sugar syrup. Not recommended.
Bee bread Brood
Bitter, yellowish pollen stored in Any immature stage of
honeycomb cells and used by bees development: egg, larva, or pupa.
for food. Also, collectively, all immature bees
Bee escape in the hive.
A mechanical device that allows bees Brood comb
to pass through it in only one Any drawn comb in which eggs,
direction. Often a leaf spring or cone larvae, or pupae are found.
design used to eliminate bees from
particular supers in a hive or from Brood nest
buildings. The area inside the hive body
devoted to brood rearing.
Bee glue
See Propolis. Brood rearing
The process involving egg laying,
Beehive feeding larvae, and keeping pupae
Normally refers to a human-made warm, which produces more adult
container in which the colony lives. bees.
Movable frame hives are required by
Cappings
law in California (see Hive). A thin layer of wax covering ripened
Beekeeper honey or developing pupae.
An individual who oversees the Cappings are collected when honey
maintenance of one or more colonies is being uncapped. Capped brood
of bees. refers to pupae.
Cappings melter Comb
A hot water, steam, or electrically A mass of hexagonal cells made of
heated container used to separate beeswax and containing brood and
honey and wax by melting; wax food.
floats on the honey. Cover (also referred to as a top or lid)
Cappings spinner The flat, wooden piece placed on top
A centrifuge with wire-screened of the hive to confine and protect the
baskets used to separate honey from bees.
wax.
Crosspollination
Cell Movement of pollen between
One of the hexagonal compartments blossoms of one variety of plant
of a honeycomb in which brood is species and a second, compatible
reared or food is stored. variety to produce hybrid seed. (See
Cismontane also Pollination.)
Area west of Sierra Nevada Dearth
Mountains in northern and central Severe to total lack of availability,
California, and area west of Mojave usually in reference to nectar and/or
and Colorado deserts in southern pollen.
California. (See also Transmontane.)
Demaree method
Clipping and marking A swarm prevention technique
Terminology referring to the clipping based on removal and isolation of a
of a portion of a queen's wings and colony's brood at the top of a
the affixing of a dot of colored multiple-story hive.
material on the top of her thorax.
Drift
Cluster Movement of bees from their original
Loosely, any group of bees that hive into a neighboring hive-
forms a relatively compact frequent with drones and
aggregation. A winter cluster is surprisingly common with workers.
composed of all the bees in the
colony huddled as closely together Drone
as necessary to maintain the required A male bee that develops from an
temperature. As the ambient unfertilized egg.
temperature increases, the cluster Dysentery
expands until it loses its identity but Intestinal disorder causing frequent
it will reappear if the temperature defecation (diarrhea) in affected
drops. individuals. Tan, brown, or black
Colony fecal smears on combs or outside of
A community of bees living in close hive indicate such a problem.
association and contributing to their Escape board (also, sometimes, inner
mutual support by their labor. It is cover)
composed of a queen and worker A device with dimensions identical
bees, and during spring and summer to the top of a super that contains
drone bees are present. The terms one or more bee escapes. Used to
colony and hive are often used empty one or more supers of bees.
interchangeably.
Extractor Hive stand
A mechanical device used to remove A device that elevates the bottom
honey from uncapped honeycombs board up off the ground.
by centrifugal force. Hot room
Festoon An insulated portion of a warehouse
A unique cluster of bees that link with radiant or forced air heating
themselves together by their tarsi that can produce temperatures up to
(feet)in a loose network between 100°F.
combs in a hive. Normally, these are Larva
aggregates of wax-producing bees. The wormlike immature stage of a
Flow honey bee that increases in size
Refers to the availability of nectar dramatically as it feeds on royal jelly,
and/or pollen. When food pollen, and diluted honey.
substances are available in Nectar
abundance, it is a "good flow." A dilute sugar solution secreted by
Foraging glands in different parts of plants,
Those activities of bees connected chiefly in flowers.
with finding and bringing back Nuclei
water, nectar, pollen, or propolis. A small functioning colony of bees
Foundation (queen, bees, brood) on two to five
A thin sheet of beeswax imprinted combs.
with the hexagonal cell bases of a Nurse bee
honeycomb; used as a base for the A worker bee of the correct age (6 to
comb when placed in frames. 12 days postemergence) to produce
Frame royal jelly and to feed larval bees,
A rectangle, usually of wood, that is adult queens, and drones.
hung inside the hive to support the Oven
foundation and comb. Sometimes A small, highly insulated portion of
frame and comb are used inter- a warehouse, often in the hot room,
changeably; that is, a "comb of where temperatures can be elevated
brood" is a "frame of brood." to 150°Fto melt wax.
Fume board Package
See Acid board. A wire-screened wooden box of bulk
Hive bees, a queen, and a can of feed used
A container housing a colony of to transport bees to an empty hive.
bees. Usually consists of one or more Pollen
hive bodies below and one or more Male sex cells produced in anthers of
supers above. (See Beehive and flowers. Powderlike and composed
Colony.) of many grains, they are gathered
Hive body and used by honey bees for food as a
The part of the hive containing source of protein. A good mix of
combs in which the queen lays eggs. many different pollens is essential
The hive body rests on the bottom for adequate nutrition.
board.
Pollination Queen excluder
Transfer of viable pollen to a A wire or plastic grid, with slots just
receptive stigma of a flower. In large enough for passage of worker
commercial beekeeping, the term bees, used to prohibit the movement
refers to the service provided by of queens between supers.
honey bees in crop production. (See Queenless
also Crosspollination .) A hive of bees with no queen.
Pollen substitutes Queenright
Feed substances fed to bees to A colony of bees with a functioning
provide protein, fats, vitamins, and queen.
minerals when pollens are not
available. Rendered comb
Comb that has been melted down to
Pollen supplement beeswax. With American foulbrood,
Pollen substitute mixed with pollen the wooden frames are soaked in a
to increase attractiveness and lye bath.
nutritive value to bees.
Requeen
Pollen trap To remove the present queen from
A device attached to a hive to the colony and replace her with
remove pollen loads from incoming another queen.
foraging bees. Pollen "pellets"
usually are collected in a drawer that Ropiness
is inaccessible to the bees. Having the characteristicof sticky
elasticity and stringing out when
Prepupa stirred and stretched.
An immature stage between the last
larval stage and the true pupal stage Royal jelly
in the life cycle of a honey bee. A glandular secretion from the heads
of worker bees used to feed young
Propolis larvae and adult worker, drone, and
Plant resins collected by bees and queen bees.
used as a cement to stick hive parts
together and to seal openings. Also Scale
called bee glue. A dehydrated, dead larva shrunken
Pupa to an elongated thin, flat chip at the
The preadult form of bees occurring bottom of a cell.
after the larval stage and maintained Slumgum
without evident change in size and A mixture of propolis, pollen,
structure until the adult bee emerges cocoons, and other debris that
from the cell. persists after beeswax and honey
Queen have been recovered from rendered
Lone, fully developed female in combs.
colony. She lays all the eggs and Solar melter
stores sperm for up to 3 years. A device designed to use the heat of
Queen cage candy the sun to melt beeswax, and, in
A special fondant made from some cases, to separate honey from
Nulomoline, drivert, and glycerine beeswax.
(see Feeding Bees); used to feed queen
and attendant bees in queen cages.
Spermatheca Trachea
A small, round organ in the A system of air-filled branching
abdomen of a queen bee capable of tubes that conduct oxygen from
storing viable sperm for 3 years. outside the body to inner tissues of
Spring dwindling the bees.
A condition in which the colony Transmontane
population decreases in size during Area east of Sierra Nevada
spring at which time exponential Mountains; includes Mojave and
population growth is anticipated. Colorado deserts.
Super Wintering
A wooden box with frames The process of preparing the hive
containing foundation or drawn and colony for survival over winter.
comb in which honey is to be Also, a colony in the process of
produced. Named for its position attempting to survive over winter.
above the brood nest. The same type Worker
of box is referred to as a hive body An infertile, female honey bee,
when it is situated below the honey anatomically adapted to perform the
supers and is intended to be used for work for a colony of bees including:
brood rearing and pollen storage. manipulating stored food, feeding
Supersedure brood, guarding hives, foraging for
A natural process by which a colony food, etc.
of bees replaces its present queen
with a new one.
Swarm
A cluster of worker bees, with or
without drones and a queen, that
has left the hive.
References
Many books have been written on beekeeping. Generally, the larger and
more expensive the book, the more comprehensive the information. This list
includes only a few representative books by category, but many others are
available through bookstores and beekeeping supply dealers. Many good
pamphlets are available, also, from the county offices of UC Cooperative
Extension.
Region of
Title Author Publisher coverage
How To
Begin to Keep Bees Carrier Carrier Western U.S.
First Lessons in Beekeeping Dadant Dadant Eastern U.S.
How to Keep Bees and Sell Honey Kelley Kelley Eastern U.S.
Mastering the Art of Beekeeping Aebi Rodale Western U.S.
Starting Right with Bees Gleanings Root Eastern U.S.
The Art and Adventure of Beekeeping Aebi Rodale Western U.S.
Comprehensive Texts
Bees and Beekeeping Morse Comstock Eastern U.S.
Bees, Beekeeping, Honey and
Pollination Gomjerac AVI Eastern U.S.
The Hive and the Honey Bee * Grout Dadant Eastern U.S.
Reference Books
ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture Root Root Worldwide
A Scanning Electron Microscope Atlas Erickson Root Worldwide
of the Honey Bee
Honey-A Comprehensive Survey Crane IBRA Worldwide
Honey Bee Pests, Predators and Morse Comstock Worldwide
Diseases
The Illustrated Encyclopediaof Morse & Root Worldwide
Beekeeping Hooper
Special Topics
Contemporary Queen Rearing Laidlaw Dadant U.S. practices
Honey in the Comb Killion Dadant Eastern U.S.
Instrumental Insemination Laidlaw Dadant U.S. practices
Making Mead Morse Scribner Worldwide
*Best comprehensive text available.