Beekeeping, also known as apiculture, is the practice of humans maintaining bee colonies, usually in manufactured hives. Among the most popular are honey bees of the species Apis; however, other honey-generating bees like Melipona that do not have stings are also maintained in captivity. When an individual maintains bees for harvesting honey and some other goods generated by the hive (i.e., propolis, beeswax, flower pollen, royal jelly, and bee pollen), fertilising crops, or breeding bees to sell them to buyers, it is known as beekeeping. An apiary, sometimes known as a “bee yard”, is a structure where bees are housed and maintained.
Beekeeping for Beginners
A beekeeper should begin his beekeeping business early in the season by starting honey bee farming when the blossoms are full of nectar. Here are some suggestions regarding beekeeping for beginners.
Types of beekeeping
The two types of beekeeping:
I] Traditional Bee-keeping
The practice of traditional beekeeping is distinct from the practice of honey hunting. It is based on the building and usage of traditional hives. Traditional hives are usually cylindrical in design, with a single chamber fixed comb and no interior construction. They are also made of wood. In conventional hives, the bees build their layers of honeycomb inside the hives, called “honeycomb”.
Traditional beekeeping is an art that has been passed down from generation to generation, each with innumerable distinguishing characteristics. Here, the most common variants of traditional hive designs make use of a combination of materials such as hollowed-out logs, bamboo, bark, Ensete ventricosum (false banana trees), straw, leaves, and/or clay.
II] Modern Beekeeping
A beekeeper’s first and foremost concern is the well-being of their hives. Because of contemporary beekeeping technology, even skilled and inexperienced beekeepers can ensure that their bees are healthy and safe. You may improve your beekeeping skills by using certain technological tools, regardless of whether you manage a few hives or an extensive apiary of bees.
Swarming
During swarming, a new honey bee colony is produced when the queen bee departs the colony with numerous worker bees, resulting in the formation of new honey bee colonies. It is estimated that around 60% of worker bees depart the original hive site with the old queen during the peak swarming period. A swarm of bees may exist in thousands or even tens of thousands. Mostly swarming occurs between May and June. Following it, secondary swarming may also occur, although these are often less in size and are accompanied by one or more virgin queens.
Supersedure
When a colony is rearing a new queen to replace an elderly, sick, or absent queen, they create supersedure cells to aid in the process. The new queen that emerges from the cell will either take over for the old queen or will completely replace her. The colony produces numerous supersedure cells at the same time to increase the likelihood of generating a healthy new queen. It’s almost always the case that the first one to emerge will be the new queen.
According to beekeepers, supersedure cells are often seen on the comb face, stretching out from the surface and dangling downwards. The colony of honey bees will develop between one and three supersedure cells at a time, with the majority of honey bee species.
Beekeeping Equipment
Many individuals are unaware of the various sorts of equipment required for this agri-business. Here are some types of equipment used for beekeeping:
1. The Hive Tool
Hive Tool is the first item on this list. This is a must-have for beekeepers. You’re probably aware that bees construct hives and connect them. Because of the resin-like Propolis, they are difficult to separate. As a result, this Hive Toll will assist you in detaching, cutting, and scraping the bee combs from the hives. It is difficult to accomplish any of the above tasks without the Hive Tool.
2. Smoker
When you’re dealing with a swarm of aggressive bees, you’ll appreciate how valuable a Smoker is. Bees frequently refuse to let anyone come near their colonies and try to sting them as well. People can use this Smoker to scare the Bees away. It is one of the most widely available beekeeping tools in India.
3. A Jacket with a Veil on the Hat
It is another essential piece of beekeeping equipment. You must cover yourself if you approach the hives. Because it contains a veil, this jacket will also hide your face. You’ll be able to see the beehive as well. You can go near the beehives without having any problems if you wear this Bee Jacket. As a result, this is one of the most significant sections in the Beekeeping Equipment.
4. Gloves
Gloves are necessary for this form of farming. It is done to keep the area clean while removing the honey, and it lets you avoid stickiness. Apart from these two functions, gloves will also help you avoid bee stings.
5. Bumble Bee Brush
It will assist you in removing the bees from the comb gently, which is extremely important during the eradication of swarms.
Conclusion
Honeybees are fascinating insects for a variety of reasons. Their extensive foraging mechanisms and complicated social life set them apart from other bees. Honeybees are also crucial to agricultural prosperity since they pollinate a large number of the flowers, fruits, and vegetables that we see in grocery stores regularly. Honeybees should be valued for all that they do to keep our environment working, even if they are seen as pests by many. Remember where your honey comes from the next time you try to swat a honeybee.