Honey Bees: Frequently Asked Questions
Why Bumblebees and not Honey Bees?
Tomato flowers do not have nectar, which is essential for honey production. Bumblebees are happy to roam without nectar as they dont produce honey. As a matter of interest the vibration rate of a bumblebees wings is equivalent to the speed of an electric shaver
Source: www.beekist.com
What is the scientific name for Africanized honey bees and can they mate with other honey bees?
The Africanized honey bee is a hybrid of a strain of honey bees from Africa,
Apis mellifera scutellata , and basically any other honey bee that it can mate with and produce viable offspring. In the United States this could be
Apis mellifera ligustica (Italian honey bee),
Apis mellifera carnica (Carniolian honey bee),
Apis mellifera caucasica (Caucasian honey bee), and
Apis mellifera mellifera (Dark honey bee).
Source: honeybee.tamu.edu
What are the visible differences in Africanized Honey Bees and regular honey bees?
There are no differences visual to the naked eye. That means that the only way to determine that a particular bee is an Africanized Honey Bee is under the microscope. That is why suspect bees are sent to Texas A&M; for identification. If the media reports that someone was stung by killer bees, you should be suspicious. AHB's might be responsible, but there is no way of knowing by the deadline for the ten o'clock news. The only way to determine whether the bees were AHB's is by the use of laboratory equipment and a computer. ...
Source: www.houstonbeekeepers.org
Are Parker neem safer to Honey Bees?
Parker neem oil is highly safe to Honey Bees. Infact, Parker neem oil Spray as advised helps to cure Nosemosis and mite problems of Honey Bees.
Source: www.organicneem.com
How long do honey bees live?
They literally live until they fly their wings off. It really depends on how busy they are.
Source: www.needfulbeecandles.com
What is the proper color of honey bees wax?
It starts out white and as the bees fill it changes to a golden color with a slight yellow-orange tint. The longer that it stays in the hive the darker it becomes.
Source: www.needfulbeecandles.com
Why are farmers so dependant on honey bees?
While gathering nectar, the bees also collect pollen in little pouches on their back legs. As the bee flies from flower to flower, the pollen that stuck to the bee brushes off onto the stigma in the center of each flower. This pollinates the flower so it can bear fruit. Often farmers will "rent" bee hives from bee keepers to pollinate their crops in the spring.
Source: www.ontariohoney.com
Is it illegal to kill honey bees?
Not if they are in your home. Although many pesticide labels include warnings to avoid spraying flowering plants or crops outdoors where honey bees are likely to be foraging for nectar and pollen (e.g., in a garden or planted field). In those situations, it is important to obey the labeling to help protect the bees. However, when bees invade a home, or a colony is a threat, you have the right to remove them (preferably) or to kill them if necessary.
Source: forsythbeekeepers.org
Many pesticide labels include warnings to avoid spraying flowering plants or crops outdoors where honey bees are likely to be foraging for nectar and pollen (e.g., in a garden or planted field). In those situations, it is important to obey the labeling to help protect the bees. However, when bees invade a home, or a colony is a threat , you have the right to remove them (preferably) or to kill them if necessary.
Source: www.ces.ncsu.edu
Many pesticide labels include warnings to avoid spraying flowering plants or crops outdoors where honey bees are likely to be foraging for nectar and pollen (e.g., in a garden or planted field). In those situations, it is important to obey the labeling to help protect the bees. However, when bees invade a home, or a colony is a threat , you have the right to remove them (preferably) or to kill them if necessary. ...
Source: www.beecontrolsacramento.com
Do honey bees sting?
TOP OF PAGE The article “ What is in a bee sting ” explains the dynamics of a bee sting.
Source: www.harriscountybeekeepers.org
How many honey bees are there in a colony?
At the height of the season an average sized colony can contain 50, 000 bees.
Source: www.ibra.org.uk
What do I feed the honey bees in the spring?
It is best to feed a mixture of sugar and water in a one to one ratio by volulme in the spring. Half fill your container with sugar and add water to completely fill the container. You can mix the syrup by stirring the one to one sugar/water mixture for the spring feeding. The bees will use the sugar syrup mixture until natural sources are available. You can also stimulate the honey bees to raise brood in the spring by feeding them Dadant's Brood Builder.
Source: www.dadant.com
What do I feed the honey bees in the fall?
Use a two part sugar to one part water sugar syrup mixture if the bees do not have adequate winter stores. Fill your container to the half way mark with water. Pour the water into a pan to place on stove to warm up or boil. Completely fill your container with sugar. Add sugar to hot water and stir. Hot or boiling water will help to dissolve the sugar better. Allow mixture to cool before feeding your bees.
Source: www.dadant.com
Why are Africanized honey bees called 'killer bees'?
The name "killer" was first used in a news magazine report several decades ago when it was reported that several people died after having been stung by the bees. The name was only used once at that time and was greatly exaggerated. A B-grade movie then was made in which the "killer" bees attacked Houston and caused a lot of death and destruction in that city. Though the movie was complete fiction, the widespread perception of the Africanized honey bees being killers was launched.
Source: honeybee.tamu.edu
Why are a huge number of honey bees congregating on my property?
The huge number of adult honey bees gathering together is a swarm of bees which has divided off from a larger established colony. If it is near a harbor or airport, please report it to the State’s toll-free Pest Hotline at 643-PEST ( 7378 ) . The HDOA is keeping a honey bee free zone around harbors and airports. In addition, HDOA may want to obtain a sample to determine if it is infested with varroa mites. ...
Source: hawaii.gov
Do Africanized honey bees produce honey?
Yes. AHBs are honey bees and do produce honey. However, they are not easily managed in Florida because of their defensive characteristics.
Source: afbee.ifas.ufl.edu
Are Africanized Honey Bees (AHB) in Riverside County?
There have been incidents of Africanized Honey Bees (AHB) in the County. While AHB do attack more aggressively than regular bees and will pursue an enemy further, they attack only when threatened. For precautions and what to do if you are stung or attacked, click here .
Source: www.rvcfire.org
How are honey bees different than social wasps?
Although honey bees are from the same family of insects, they are less aggressive and normally do not attack humans unless provoked.
Source: www.saferbrand.com
Are Parrys Azadirachtin formulations safer to Honey Bees?
Parrys Azadirachtin formulations are highly safe to Honey Bees. Infact, Parrys Azadirachtin formulations help cure Nosemosis and mite problems of Honey Bees.
Source: www.parryamerica.com
Are honey bees the only bees important for pollination?
No. There are many other bees and insects that are important for pollinating our orchards and crops, e.g. bumble bees ( Bombus spp.) and solitary bees. There are over 25, 000 different species of bee in the world and many of them are under threat. In the UK, of the 254 species of wild bee (solitary and bumble bees), 25% are in the Red Data Book of endangered species. About 80% of the food on the supermarket shelves is there because bees have pollinated crops -- without bees we would starve!
Source: www.ibra.org.uk
Are Africanized Honey Bees in Georgia?
As of August 2008, No. The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture has swarm traps along the Georgia/Florida border that are regularly checked for AHB's. Q – Are Africanized Honey Bees and the Killer Bee the same thing? A – The short answer is yes. People who are familiar with honey bees call them Africanized Honey Bees because that’s what they are, a hybrid of the African Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera Scutellata) . They became dubbed "killer bees" by Hollywood movies and poor news coverage. ...
Source: www.gabeekeeping.com
As of November 2008, No. The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture has swarm traps along the Georgia/Florida border that are regularly checked for AHB's. Q – Are Africanized Honey Bees and the Killer Bee the same thing? A – The short answer is yes. People who are familiar with honey bees call them Africanized Honey Bees because that’s what they are, a hybrid of the African Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera Scutellata) . ...
Source: www.gabeekeeping.com
How do honey bees carry pollen?
Honey bees carry pollen back to the hive in a small "basket" of fine hairs on the outside of their hind legs. As the bee scrapes pollen off its body, hairs on the leg collect the pollen. It is then transferred to the basket opening with a minute comb at the mid-joint of the leg. There is even a "pollen press" as part of the joint that will pack the pollen into these baskets. When the basket is full the bee will return to the hive and unload the pollen "pellets" out of the baskets into a cell. ...
Source: urbanbees.blogspot.com
Click to enlarge! Honey bees carry pollen back to the hive in a small "basket" of fine hairs on the outside of their hind legs. As the bee scrapes pollen off its body, hairs on the leg collect the pollen. It is then transferred to the basket opening with a minute comb at the mid-joint of the leg. There is even a "pollen press" as part of the joint that will pack the pollen into these baskets. When the basket is full the bee will return to the hive and unload the pollen "pellets" out of the baskets into a cell. ...
Source: www.swarmremoval.com
When should I hive my new package of honey bees?
The best time to hive the honey bees is late afternoon or early evening. Spray the honey bees with sugar water while still in the shipping container. This will make it easier to put the honey bees in the hive.
Source: www.dadant.com
Can Africanized honey bees sting more than once?
No, worker honey bees, whether Africanized or regular European, only sting once. That is because the edges of their stinger are jagged. So, when a worker honey bee penetrates the skin with its stinger, the jagged edges get caught and can not be pulled back out. The worker honey bee tries and tries to free herself anyway and eventually she pulls her body away from the stinger. ...
Source: honeybee.tamu.edu
Why don't researchers think of a way to kill all the Africanized honey bees?
Africanized honey bees, like their cousins the regular European honey bee, actually are useful in helping to pollinate plants. Scientists still are trying to learn more about the value of Africanized honey bees, and in some South and Central American countries and in their native African, these bees are maintained for honey production. Even if they never are used for honey production in the United States, it would not be possible to kill one kind of honey bee without killing other types. ...
Source: honeybee.tamu.edu
Where can I find the list of counties in the quarantine program for Africanized Honey Bees?
Texas A&M; publishes a list of counties in the quarantine program. To view the list click here.
Source: www.houstonbeekeepers.org
How long have Africanized Honey Bees been in the United States?
Africanized Honey bees have been in South American since 1957. They were first confirmed to be in the United States in 1990 when, on October 17, 1990, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of AHB's in Hildago, Texas. There were no AHB's verified to be in Harris County until 2001. To view a map of the known range of AHB's, click here.
Source: www.houstonbeekeepers.org
