Beekeeping, or apiculture, is an up and coming hobby, whether you are someone who is concerned about the environment or someone who just likes the taste of fresh and delicious honey. The beekeeper, or apiarist, keeps honey bee colonies, or hives, and maintains them. The place the bees are kept is called an apiary or a bee yard. There are different types of honey bees that you can choose from: the Western honey bee, the Italian bee, the European dark bee, and the Carniolan honey bee; all of which are capable of inter-breeding.
There are various types of hives one can use in the art of apiculture too: fixed comb hives, movable frame hives, top bar hives, and more. When you are harvesting the honey or the other products of the hive, you will need protective clothing. The simplest consists of gloves, a hat, and a veil, while the more complex is an entire bee proof suit. Protective clothing should also be light in color and made of smooth materials. Smokers are used by most apiarist’s to assist them in calming the bee’s down as you harvest everything.
Inside of the hive you have three types of bees: the queen bee, the worker bees, and the drones. The job of the queen bee is to lay eggs, ensuring the survival of the colony. The worker bee’s have a multitude of tasks which include feeding the larvae, cleaning cells, incubation, receiving the honey and pollen from field bees, wax making, cell building, guarding, and nectar/pollen foraging. The drones are only responsible for mating with the queen bee.
Beekeeping is a hobby that will ensure the survival of future generations. It is fun and it is easy. It is something that requires relatively little effort and produces big results. Get out there and try it today!