Unit 7: Beekeeping: What's Needed? Flashcards
What are the requisites to start keeping bees?
Information (take a beekeeping course, read books, journals , etc)
Bee hives
Bees
A location to establish an apiary, Beekeeping equipment
Interest and time
When is a good time to start beekeeping?
Start during the spring with a few hives. Thi gives time to acquire experience without the risk of losing all of your colonies
What are the most important protective equipment to have in beekeeping?
A smoker, a hive tool, and something to help protect against stings (veil)
What is a hive tool?
A hive tool is made of forged steel
It is used to separate different parts of the hive because bees glue them with propolis
What is a smoker composed of?
a cylinder and the bellows
How does a smoker work?
The bellows puff air underneath the cylinder to produce smoke from the burning fuel inside of the cylinder.
What is the purpose of a brush?
to brush bees off of a comb without hurting them.
What are the hives in north america based on
The Langstroth hive (1857)
How are hives designed?
They are composed of boxes with frames to allow ~1cm of bee space between combs
What are the hive parts bottom to top?
Bottom board (base) Brood chamber Queen excluder Supers Inner cover and outer cover.
What is the difference between the brood chambers and the supers in a hive?
The brood chamber is used to rear brood and store food whereas the supers are meant to store honey for the beekeeper to harvest
What is a queen excluder?
A screen that restrains the queen to the brood chamber to make sure she does not lay eggs in the supers. Workers can pass through but the queen is too large to do so.
How many foundation sheets are usually in a brood chamber or super?
between 8 - 10 frames
What is the purpose of the inner and outer covers?
To provide insulation and protection from the environment
What temperature does a hive need to be kept at?
Around 33 - 35 degrees C
What is the bottom screen used for in a hive?
To monitor for varroa mites
What is the most common way people buy bees?
Buying a nucleus colony
What is an apiary?
Bee yard?
What are some key things to look for when picking an area for an apiary?
- away from animals and humans
- good air circulation and drainage
- close to flowering plants and extracting facilities
- away from pesticide applications
- exposure to morning sun
- wind protection and vehicle accessibility are also important considerations
How should a hive be placed?
Placed on stands and behind fences or natural barriers.
What helps bees identify their hive?
Placing them a different heights and different colouration
