HONEY BEES

AND
BEEKEEPING
By
Steve Parker
• The western honey
bee or European
honey bee (Apis
mellifera) is the most
common of the 7–12
species of honey
bees worldwide
 WHY ARE HONEYBEES IMPORTANT?

Honeybees pollinate billions of £s worth

of commercial agricultural crops around Honeybee hives provide honey and wax,
the world every year. They are important and pollen, propolis, and royal jelly that
pollinators for economically important are sold for medicines and cosmetics.
wild plant populations as well.

Honeybees are important study Some research suggests honeybee venom

organisms for research in the connections may have medically useful applications in
between nervous system structure and the treatment of auto-immune disease or
behavior. inflammation.
 BEES AND MAN: A HISTORY

The western honey bee was one of the first domesticated insects

The Honey Seeker 8,000 year old cave painting near Valencia
Spain

Honey found in Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s tomb

 WHAT'S
IN A BEE
COLONY?
 FACTS:

• Worker Bees Can fly 6 miles per day

• The average lifespan of a worker bee in summer is
around three weeks
• How much honey does 1 worker bee produce in her
lifetime?
• Honey Bees have an amazing GPS guidance system
• When Bees Swarm they are at their most docile
FROM EGG TO BEE
BEE BROOD
DRONE CELLS
QUEEN
CELLS
A ROYAL BIRTH
 HOW DID WE
KEEP BEES?
• Traditional Skep Method

• Relatively unsustainable
Beekeeping

• Modern Methods in
Harmony with Nature
HOW DO
WE KEEP
BEES
TODAY?
QUEEN, DRONES AND WORKER BEES
 BEE
SWARM
Completely Natural Process of
Reproduction
WHAT DO BEES FORAGE?
POLLEN
WORKER BEE
 • Loss of Habitat
MAJOR THREATS • Pesticides
• Veroa Mite
TO HONEY BEES • Asian Hornet
 ASIAN HORNET

Already
Established in
Europe and
Jersey