Getting Started#
1 . Describe several factors that help in the selection of optimal sites for an apiary.
Away from traffic and human disturbance.
Full sunlight or locations shaded in the afternoon.
Good air circulation and water drainage.
Nearby source of fresh water.
Protection from direct wind, especially in winter.
Southern or eastern exposure for sun.
Free from pesticide applications.
Abundant flowering plants or multiple nectar sources.
Safe distance from livestock and penned animals.
Situate hives so that bees’ flight path does not cross. sidewalks, parking lots or playgrounds (or near highways where bees could get killed).
2 . What are good apiary site choices that are good for the beekeeper?
Close to beekeeper’s home.
Firm dry ground on which to stand- also flat areas to place beehives.
Accessible to vehicle/truck.
Space for expansion of hives.
Building space for storage or hive tools.
Secluded area where hives will not be stolen or vandalized.
Easy access to pollination sites.
Raised hives to a comfortable height to avoid back-bending.
3 . What is one of the most common complaints beekeepers get from neighbors?
Bees foraging for water in their swimming pools.
4 . How can you mitigate the problem in question 3?
Make sure you have water sources near your apiary (Boardman feeders with water or birdbaths etc.).
5 . What is drifting and describe how to avoid it?
Returning foraging honey bees accidently entering the wrong colony. Avoid drifting by varying the color or decoration of hives and varying configuration and entrance directions rather than straight rows.
6 . Describe several apiary designs that help avoid drifting.
Configurations shaped as a “U” , “V” or circles are preferred.
7 . What is the major disadvantage of buying established colonies?
Risk of the acquisition of substandard or old equipment.
Risk of disease.
8 . What is the most important tool for working a colony of bees?
Smoker
9 . Why might you not need a smoker on your first visit when you start with package bees or a swarm?
Bees don’t yet perceive the hive as their home (until the second visit) and are not as defensive.
10 . What is the most important principle to remember when lighting a smoker?
Have the flame below the fuel
11 . What is your objective when lighting a smoker?
Cool, dense smoke that helps to calm the bees by diffusing the alarm pheromone.
12 . Why should you avoid laying hive parts or supers directly onto leaves or dirt?
Propolis is sticky and will pick up loose debris.
13 . What should you do if a bee gets inside your veil?
Exit the apiary then remove the veil or protective equipment, otherwise, more bees my enter your protective equipment.
14 . What is the advantage of starting with packaged bees?
2-3 pounds of workers and a mated queen
Cheaper than other options
Can be shipped anywhere in the world when protected from temperature extremes if delivered in a timely manner
15 . What is the main disadvantage of package bees?
Colonies grow slowly because of the 21-day delay between first eggs laid and the emergence of first workers.
16 . What is the name of the three-holed wooden queen cage?
Benton queen cage?
17 . Is a swarm of Africanized bees distinguishable from a swarm of Italian bees?
No. Africanized bees in a swarm are indistinguishable from other races of bees and are gentle in the swarm - they show their defensive behavior on the second visit after the swarm is installed.
18 . What is a “nuc”?
Nucleus hive implies a smaller colony, usually 4-5 frames of bees, brood and a mated queen which will quickly grow.
19 . What is the major advantage of starting with a “nuc”?
Rapid build-up because they are sold with frames with brood, honey and pollen.
20 . What are the major disadvantages of starting with a nuc?
General inability to be shipped.
Risks of spreading pests and disease.
21 . When starting with an established colony, should you be concerned if the order inside the hive is “spicy and pungent”?
This is normal in the fall since nectar from goldenrod can smell like old sneakers. Foulbrood, on the other hand, can also smell bad but brood areas will look abnormal.
22 . What is the biggest stimulus to robbing behavior?
Exposed honey
23 . If buying an established colony in the fall, how large should be cluster optimally be?
At least the size of a basketball.
24 . What is the difference between commercial, sideline and small-scale beekeepers
Commercial beekeepers manage hundreds to thousands of bee colonies and may move the colonies to provide pollination services or collect different floral sources.
Sideline beekeepers make bees pay for their keep and provide some money for their household.
Small scale beekeepers which are roughly 95% of beekeepers, maintain less than 50 colonies and have other jobs that provide income for the family