4H Beekeeping Manual Ebook Free Download

  4H Beekeeping Manual Na me : ____________________ Ag e : _____ C lub Na me : Be e ke e p ing C lub C lub Le a d e r & Autho r: Bria n Ro we 310 Millto wn Ro a d , Brid g e wa te r, NJ 08807-3587 Ed itio n: 2009

  

Contents  

  G e tting Sta rte d ......................................................................................................................................... 5

  The Hive Struc ture ...........................................................................................................................................6

  Struc ture Histo ry........................................................................................................................................ 6 Bo tto m Bo a rd ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Hive Bo d ie s................................................................................................................................................ 7 Ho ne y Sup e rs............................................................................................................................................ 7 Inne r C o ve r ............................................................................................................................................... 7 O ute r C o ve r.............................................................................................................................................. 7 Fra me s........................................................................................................................................................ 7

  O ne Pie c e ............................................................................................................................................. 7 Wo o d e n Fra me s with Fo und a tio n ..................................................................................................... 7

  O the r Hive C o mp o ne nts......................................................................................................................... 8

  Hive Lo c a tio n ..................................................................................................................................................9

  NJ Re g ula tio ns........................................................................................................................................ 10

  Ap ic ulture ......................................................................................................................................................11 Inse c ts ............................................................................................................................................................11 Ho ne y Be e Bre e d s........................................................................................................................................11

  Ita lia n – (Ap is me llife ra lig ustic a ) ......................................................................................................... 11 The C a rnio la n - (Ap is me llife ra c a rnic a ) ............................................................................................ 12 The Ne w Wo rld C a rnio la n .................................................................................................................... 12 The C a uc a sia n – (Ap is me llife ra c a uc a sic a ) .................................................................................... 12 The G e rma n - (Ap is me llife ra me llife ra ) ............................................................................................. 13 The Buc kfa st............................................................................................................................................ 13 The Russia n .............................................................................................................................................. 13 The Minne so ta Hyg ie nic ....................................................................................................................... 14 The SMR (a .k.a . VMR) ............................................................................................................................ 14

  The C o rd o va n (Ita lia n Sub sp e c ie s)..................................................................................................... 14 The Mid nig ht (Hyb rid ) ............................................................................................................................ 14 The Sta rline (Hyb rid ) ............................................................................................................................... 14 Wild C a uc a sia n (Hyb rid )....................................................................................................................... 15 Afric a n - (Ap is me llife ra sc ute lla ta )..................................................................................................... 15 C a p e – (Ap is me llife ra c a p e nsis) ........................................................................................................ 15

  Be e Bio lo g y Ba sic s........................................................................................................................................17

  The Q ue e n .............................................................................................................................................. 17 The Wo rke r............................................................................................................................................... 18 The Dro ne ................................................................................................................................................ 18

  O b se rving the Hive Entra nc e .....................................................................................................................19 O ur First Ye a r o f Be e Ma na g e me nt...........................................................................................................20

  Hiving a Pa c ka g e o f Be e s .................................................................................................................... 20 Hiving a Nuc le us Hive (Nuc ) ................................................................................................................ 21 Sp ring Sta rt .............................................................................................................................................. 21 Summe r Flo w & Hive Insp e c tio ns......................................................................................................... 21

  Ho w to o p e n a nd e xa mine yo ur hive : ........................................................................................... 22 La te Summe r Ho ne y Be e Ma na g e me nt............................................................................................ 23

  Fa vo ra b le We a the r............................................................................................................................ 23 Ho ne y Pla nts/ Ho ne y .......................................................................................................................... 23 Ma na g e m e nt o f Hive s ...................................................................................................................... 24 Fe e d ing a Ne w Hive o f Be e s............................................................................................................ 24

  Ho w a nd whe n d o I g e t "Surp lus" ho ne y? ......................................................................................... 26 Whe n is it time to re mo ve the ho ne y? ............................................................................................... 26 Ho w to ta ke the ho ne y sup e rs o ff the hive ....................................................................................... 26

  Be e Sting s.......................................................................................................................................................27 Ene mie s o f the Hive .....................................................................................................................................28

  Dise a se ..................................................................................................................................................... 28

  Bro o d Dise a se s.................................................................................................................................... 28 Pe sts a nd Pre d a to rs ........................................................................................................................... 29

  Ho ne y .............................................................................................................................................................30

  Ho ne y C la ssific a tio n .............................................................................................................................. 31 Ro ya l Je lly................................................................................................................................................ 32 Po lle n........................................................................................................................................................ 33

  Be e swa x.........................................................................................................................................................34

  Histo ric a lly................................................................................................................................................ 34 Be e swa x C o mp o sitio n........................................................................................................................... 35 Wo rking with Be e swa x .......................................................................................................................... 35 So la r Wa x Me lte r.................................................................................................................................... 36 Lo w C o st Wa x Me lto r ............................................................................................................................ 37 Typ e s o f c a nd le s a nd mo ld s ................................................................................................................ 37

  C o o king With Ho ne y ....................................................................................................................................38

  Sub stituting Ho ne y fo r Sug a r................................................................................................................ 38 Re c ip e Exa mp le s: .................................................................................................................................. 38

  HO NEY C RUNC H PEC AN PIE............................................................................................................. 38 Ho ne y Musta rd G rille d C hic ke n ...................................................................................................... 39 Ho ne y Vina ig re tte : ............................................................................................................................. 39 Ho ne y Le mo na d e .............................................................................................................................. 39

  Ap p e nd ix.......................................................................................................................................................40

  The 4-H p le d g e ....................................................................................................................................... 40 4-H mo tto ................................................................................................................................................. 40 4-H slo g a n................................................................................................................................................ 40 Ple d g e o f Alle g ia nc e ............................................................................................................................ 40

  4H.............................................................................................................................................................. 40

  Wo rks C ite d ...................................................................................................................................................41

  

We lc o me to b e e ke e p ing . I ho p e yo u e njo y it a s muc h a s I ha ve . The b e e s ha ve b e e n g o o d to me , a nd I

ho p e the y will d o the sa me fo r yo u. Re g a rd s, Bria n Ro we – C lub Le a d e r & Autho r

Getting  Started 

  

A ne w b e e ke e p e r sho uld ma ke sure he ha s a ll e q uip me nt a nd a n e mp ty struc ture se t a nd

o n ha nd (no t o n o rd e r) b e fo re his b e e s a rrive . Esse ntia l e q uip me nt c o nsists o f ve il, g lo ve s,

hive to o l, smo ke r, a nd o ve ra lls. A ve il is mo st imp o rta nt a nd sho uld a lwa ys b e wo rn whe n ha nd ling b e e s. It p re ve nts

g e tting stung in the fa c e a nd ne c k. An e ffe c tive ve il sho uld b e two thing s, b e e e ntry p ro o f

a nd sho uld no t b lo w a g a inst the fa c e in the wind . Ma ny ve ils a re zip p e re d to the ja c ke t /

o ve ra lls.

  G lo ve s will g ive a g re a t d e a l o f c o nfid e nc e a nd se c urity whe n p utting ha nd s in c o nta c t

with the inne r hive . Ha nd s a nd wrists a re the ne a re st a re a s o f skin b e e s c a n sting whe n yo u

o p e n the ir hive . Eve n p ro fe ssio na l b e e ke e p e rs use g lo ve s, tho ug h no t a ll. A hive to o l is ne c e ssa ry to le ve r the p a rts o f the hive a p a rt a s b e e s use p ro p o lis to g lue thing s to g e the r. Sc re wd rive rs o r c hise ls sho uld no t b e use d a s the y will d a ma g e the hive s. Hive to o ls ha ve b ro a d fla t b la d e s. Mo st imp o rta ntly the y a re thin a nd wid e .

The smo ke r is ne c e ssa ry to ke e p the b e e s c a lm. A g o o d o ne sho uld la st a life time , so this is

no t a p la c e yo u c ut c o sts. La rg e o ne s will ne e d le ss re fue ling . A c a g e o n the o utsid e ke e p s

ha nd s fro m g e tting b urnt, a nd o fte n ha s a ho o k.

O ve ra lls / ja c ke ts a re no t a b so lute ly ne c e ssa ry, b ut b e e s g e t e nta ng le d in o rd ina ry c lo ths

like wo o lly swe a te rs. Da rk c lo thing will ma ke the m a g g re ssive , while lig ht will c a lm. So , white smo o th-te xture d o ve ra lls a re the b e st. The la st c ritic a l ite m ne e d e d is the e mp ty hive struc ture a nd its lo c a tio n se le c te d a nd

c le a re d . It is a lso p rud e nt to und e rsta nd sta te a nd lo c a l la ws re g a rd ing b e e ke e p ing . So me

to wns ha ve lo c a l o rd ina nc e s tha t p ro hib it it. Whe n sta rting a ho b b y suc h a b e e ke e p ing o ne sho uld b e a wa re o f why p e o p le ke e p b e e s. The p rima ry re a so ns a re c o lle c ting ho ne y a nd c ro p p o llina tio n. Pe o p le a lso e njo y g e tting o ut d o o rs a nd wo rking with na ture . It sho uld a lso b e me ntio ne d tha t b e e s a re ke p t fo r me d ic a l p urp o se s. Pe o p le with Multip le Sc le ro sis (MS) g e t re g ula r b e e sting s, kno wn a s Be e Ve no m The ra p y (BVT). BVT ha s e na b le d p e o p le with MS to wa lk witho ut a c a ne (No rris, 1997). BVT is no t limite d to MS a nd sho ws g re a t p ro mis. Ro ya l Je lly, Po lle n a nd e ve n ra w ho ne y ha ve sho wn in so me wa y to he lp p e o p le with me d ic a l c o nd itio ns.

The  Hive Structure 

  Structure  History  Be e s ha ve b e e n ke p t fo r ho ne y p ro d uc tio n in ma ny struc ture s.

  Eg yp tia ns use d stra w ske p s. So me e ve n use d o ld tre e stump s. Ea c h ha d its a d va nta g e . The d iffe re nt a d va nta g e s a re to the b e e ke e p e r, no t the b e e . Mo d e rn struc ture s inc lud e d W. B. C ., Smith, La ng stro th, Da d a nt, Na tio na l, a nd British Sta nd a rd . (Ho o p e r) In 1853, the Re v. L.L. La ng stro th p ub lishe d a b o o k c a lle d "The Hive a nd

  Lo re nzo La ng stro th the Ho ne y Be e " whic h c ha ng e d b e e ke e p ing in a ve ry p ro fo und wa y. (1810-1895) O ur fo c us will b e using the mo d e rn b e e hive a s we kno w it to d a y. The La ng stro th b e e hive is no w the sta nd a rd a nd mo st p o p ula r b e e hive use d in ma ny p a rts o f the wo rld . (Ho o p e r) Sho wn he re is a c ut a wa y vie w o f the insid e o f a La ng stro th hive . We se e the b o tto m b o a rd o n whic h the b o xe s sit, a b o tto m d e e p hive b o d y c a lle d the b ro o d c ha mb e r, a me d ium ho ne y hive b o d y c a lle d a "sup e r", a nd a c o mb ho ne y se c tio n hive b o d y c a lle d a "c o mb ho ne y sup e r". Ab o ve the c o mb ho ne y sup e r is a n inne r c o ve r a nd a to p o ute r c o ve r wo uld b e p la c e d o ve r e ve rything to p ro te c t the hive fro m we a the r. Within the hive b o xe s a re re mo va l fra me s tha t ho ld the c o mb b uilt b y the b e e s. (Ho o p e r) Wha t ma ke s this hive so re ma rka b le is no t tha t La ng stro th d isc o ve re d ha ng ing fra me s (tha t wa s d o ne e a rlie r), o r tha t he use d a b o x to p ut fra me s into (tha t wa s d o ne e a rlie r a s we ll). La ng stro th re c o g nize d tha t b e e s fa ile d to b uild b urr c o mb b e twe e n sp a c e s o f 1/ 4 to 3/ 8 o f a n inc h. If the sp a c e wa s sma lle r the b e e s wo uld use p ro p o lis to g lue it up , a nd if it wa s la rg e r the b e e s wo uld b uild c o mb into the sp a c e . Thus fra me s in a b o x must b e a t le a st 1/ 4 o f a n inc h fro m the sid e o f the b o x a nd no t mo re tha n 3/ 8 o f a n inc h fro m the sid e o f the b o x. The sp a c e must a lso b e p ro vid e d b e twe e n b o xe s, a nd the inne r c o ve r. If this sp a c e is vio la te d , the b e e s will c e me nt e ve rything to g e the r, ma king it ve ry d iffic ult to re mo ve fra me s fo r e xa mina tio n, o r the re mo va l o f b o xe s. (Ho o p e r) To d a y the 10 fra me hive b o d y is c o nsid e re d sta nd a rd . The re a re o the r size s, b ut yo u will find tha t p a rts a re no t inte rc ha ng e a b le .

Bottom  Board 

  The b o tto m b o a rd se rve s a s the flo o r o f the c o lo ny a nd a s a ta ke o ff a nd

  

la nd ing p la tfo rm fo r fo ra g ing b e e s. Sinc e the b o tto m b o a rd is o p e n in the fro nt, the c o lo ny

sho uld b e tilte d fo rwa rd slig htly to p re ve nt ra inwa te r fro m running into the hive .

  Hive  Bodies 

  Hive b o d ie s a re the ye a r ro und ho me fo r b e e s. No rthe rn sta te s with c o ld e r winte rs fa vo r a wo o d thic kne ss o f 7/ 8” . Ho we ve r, in the so uthe rn sta te s ¾” will wo rk just a s we ll. The c o rne rs a re d o ve ta ile d o r “ b o x jo inte d ” . Ra b b e t jo ints d o no t ha ve e no ug h stre ng th. A full hive b o d y c a n wa y o ve r 60lb s. Hive s no rma lly ha ve two b o d ie s. A b e e ke e p ing lo o king to ma ke e xtra sp lits the fo llo wing sp ring wo uld a d d a third b o d y.

  Honey  Supers 

  Ho ne y sup e rs, a lso re fe rre d to a s a me d ium , a re whe re yo u’ ll b e ha rve sting ho ne y. Sha llo w ho ne y sup p e rs a re no rma lly use d fo r c o mb ho ne y p ro d uc tio n. As the y a re sma lle r the y a re lig hte r tha n d e e p s, b ut ho ld le ss ho ne y.

  Inner  Cover 

  Ele va te s the to p o ute r c o ve r, inc re a se s hive ve ntila tio n a nd insula tio n thro ug h a n e xtra la ye r o f d e a d a ir.

  Outer  Cover 

  Prima ry ro o f p ro te c ts fro m ra in, wind , sno w a nd sun. Lig ht o ute r c o ve rs ne e d to b e we ig hte d d o wn to no t b lo w a wa y in the wind .

  Frames  

One  Piece 

  Hive a nd fo und a tio n a re o ne so lid p ie c e o f p la stic d ip p e d o r sp ra ye d in b e e s wa x. No a sse mb ly re q uire d - Stro ng a nd so lid - C a n b e re c o ve re d if wa x mo ths a tta c k; ho ld up b e tte r whe n mic e inva d e .

  Wooden  Frames with Foundation  Wo o d sq ua re fra me use s me ta l wire to ho ld a wa x fo und a tio n.

  The wa x fo und a tio n will ha ve a simila r mo ld to the o ne p ie c e fra me . The b e e s b uild the ir c o mb o n this wa x he x mo ld e d b a se .

  Other  Hive Components  Tria ng le Esc a pe Bo a rd Re mo ve s b e e s fro m ho ne y sup e rs yo u wa nt to ha rve st.

  The mo st stre ss fre e wa y to re mo ve b e e s. The b o a rd is p la c e d b e twe e n the sup e rs a nd the b ro o d c ha mb e r. The b e e s c a n le a ve the sup e rs b ut c a nno t find the ir wa y b a c k in. Be e s na vig a te b a se d o n rule s. Whe n a b e e re a c he s a n o b struc tio n, it will a lwa ys tra ve l to the rig ht a nd fo llo w tha t o b struc tio n till its e nd . So b e e s c a n le a ve thro ug h the 3 e xits b ut no t re turn.

  Do ub le Sc re e n

  Ena b le s a two q ue e n hive syste m Ma ste ring a two q ue e n hive is ve ry c ha lle ng ing .

  Q ue e n Exc lude r

  Ke e p s q ue e ns o ut o f ho ne y sup e rs a nd in the b ro o d

  Va rro a Sc re e n

  Inte g ra te d Pe st Ma na g e me nt (IPM) c o ntro ls wa ste a nd p a ra site s. Typ ic a lly it’ s ma d e o f a sc re e n o ve r a tra y o r stic ky b o a rd . The tra y is suffic ie nt a nd sup e rio r a s it c a tc he s the hive wa ste . Whe n a mite fa lls into the tra y thro ug h the sc re e n, it will just sit the re wa iting fo r the ne xt b e e to c o me b y. It will the n hitc h its ne xt rid e . By fa lling thro ug h the sc re e n the ‘ ne xt rid e ’ is p re ve nte d fro m c o ming in c o nta c t with the mite . Stic ky b o a rd s a re simila r to o ne sid e d fly p a p e r. The y c a tc h the mite s, a nd ne e d to b e re p la c e d p e rio d ic a lly.

  Sla tte d Ra c k

  Imp ro ve d swa rm p re ve ntio n thro ug h inc re a se sp a c e b e twe e n b ro o d s e q ua ting to le ss c ro wd ing .

  Hive Sta nd

  Hive Sta nd s e le va te the hive ke e p ing it a wa y fro m mic e a nd o the r a nima ls a s we ll a s a nts. Mo st imp o rta ntly it ke e p s the wo o d e n b o tto m b o a rd o ff the we t g ro und .

Hive  Location 

  The site fo r yo ur hive sho uld b e c a re fully c ho se n a nd p la nne d lo ng b e fo re yo u ha ve b e e s to b e insta lle d . O nc e a hive is e sta b lishe d , mo ving it to a b e tte r lo c a tio n c a n b e d iffic ult. Altho ug h b e e ke e p e rs in the p o llina tio n b usine ss re g ula rly tra nsp o rt the ir c o lo nie s o ve r lo ng d ista nc e s, it is no t a n e a sy ta sk. In c o nsid e ring the lo c a tio n o f a ho b b y hive o r two , o ne must b e a wa re o f c lima tic c o nd itio ns suc h a s wind , sha d e , a nd the time the sun hits the hive e a c h mo rning . Ad d itio na lly, the lo c a tio n o f a hive must ta ke into c o nsid e ra tio n p e o p le , p e sts, a nd p e ts. Bo th c ity a nd c o unty o rd ina nc e s ma y sp e c ify sp e c ia l re q uire me nts fo r tho se who wish to

ke e p b a c kya rd hive s. Ne ig hb o rho o d s inc re a sing ly ha ve "re stric tive c o ve na nts" whic h ma y

no t a llo w yo u to p a rk a b o a t in yo ur d rive wa y o r ke e p b e e s in yo ur b a c k ya rd . C he c k whe re a p p lic a b le a nd fo llo w a ny re q uire me nts.

  The situa tio n with the b a c kya rd hive is uniq ue in tha t e ve n whe n c o mp lying with a ll the ne c e ssa ry rule s a nd re g ula tio ns, o ne ma y e nc o unte r re sista nc e fro m ne ig hb o rs. Ea c h ind ivid ua l must d e c id e if ne ig hb o rs ne e d to b e sp e c ific a lly info rme d . Ma ny b e e ke e p e rs fo llo w ‘ d o n’ t te ll unle ss a ske d ’ p o lic y. So me time s the se re stric tive o rd ina nc e s a re no t in

e xiste nc e till a ne ig hb o r find s o ut the re ’ s a b e e hive ne xt d o o r. Still, e d uc a ting o the rs is o ne

o f the missio ns o f this b e e ke e p e rs g ro up . Ma ny o f us ha ve ne ig hb o rs who ha ve he a rd o f p o llina tio n p ro b le ms a nd a re e a g e r to le a rn a b o ut ho ne y b e e s. So me time s, whe n a g o ld e n, g le a ming ja r o f ho ne y is le ft o n the d o o rste p it ma ke s ne ig hb o r re la tio ns a lo t swe e te r. Fo r ne ig hb o rho o d s whe re swimming p o o ls a re c o mmo n, b e e s must b e g ive n wa te r so urc e s so the y d o n't d rink fro m a c hlo rina te d p o o l. If wa te r is no t re a d ily a va ila b le b e e s will d ro wn b y the hund re d s in swimming p o o ls a nd like ly a nno y the p o o l o wne r. Fo r

d rinking wa te r, I use a g a lva nize d c hic ke n wa te r fe e d e r. O ne c o uld use a b ird fe e d e r with

sto ne s. The sto ne s se rve a s la nd ing p a d s a nd p re ve nt b e e s fro m d ro wning .

Whe n p la c ing a b a c k ya rd hive , c o nsid e r the b e e ’ s flig ht p a th a nd ma ke sure it d o e s no t

c ro ss sid e -wa lks o r p a ths whe re p e o p le wa lk. Yo u c a n use he d g e s to fo rc e b e e s to fly up wa rd s, o r b lo c k the m fro m a re a s whe re p e o p le fre q ue nt. So me p e ts a re c o mp a tib le with b e e s, o the rs a re no t. If d o g s live in the b e e ya rd , the y g e ne ra lly le a rn no t to sna p a t b e e s in flig ht o r wa nd e r to o c lo se to the hive . Anima ls tha t ha ve ne ve r b e e n a ro und hive s must le a rn to ke e p the ir d ista nc e . Turning a la rg e b re e d

p up p y into a ya rd c o nta ining a hive ma y no t b e wise , a ltho ug h a fte r a fe w sting s e ve n the

mo st stub b o rn p e ts usua lly le a rn the ir le sso n. C a ts g e ne ra lly sho w no inte re st in b e e hive s

a nd b a c kya rd c hic ke ns kno w b e tte r tha t to c o nsid e r a b e e o n a flo we r a s p o te ntia l fo o d .

Mo nito r a ny a nima l tha t ha s a c c e ss to the hive .

  Hive s whic h a re p la c e d whe re wild life fre q ue nt sho uld b e fe nc e d o r o the rwise p ro te c te d

fro m p re d a to rs. A he a lthy stro ng c o lo ny c a n o fte n p ro te c t itse lf fro m p lund e ring b ut we a k

c o lo nie s ma y no t ha ve the numb e rs to wa rd o ff a tta c ke rs. The sma lle r p e sts whic h c a n a tta c k a hive a re a lso a p ro b le m whe n a hive is in p o o r c o nd itio n. He re in So me rse t C o unty, ma ny b e e ke e p e rs find a ne e d to p ro te c t hive s a g a inst a nts. Ants c a n swa rm into the hive a nd ro b b o th the sto re d ho ne y a s we ll a s the

d e ve lo p ing b ro o d . He a lthy c o lo nie s ma y a vo id the p ro b le m b e c a use vig ila nt g ua rd b e e s

d e te c t the fire a nts whe n the y first g e t into the hive . We a k c o lo nie s c a n b e c le a ne d o ut in

le ss tha n 24 ho urs! The b e st p ro te c tio n a g a inst a nts is to ke e p g ra ss, b rush a nd vine s fro m the a re a a ro und

the hive . The le g s o f the hive sta nd c a n b e se t in c a ns fille d with c o o king o il whic h will tra p

a ny a nts a tte mp ting to c ra wl up into the hive . (Ag p zo lt)

Ho ne y b e e s c a n b e ke p t a lmo st a nywhe re the re a re flo we ring p la nts tha t p ro d uc e ne c ta r

a nd p o lle n. C ho o se a site fo r b e e hive s tha t is d isc re te , she lte re d fro m wind s a nd p a rtia lly sha d e d . Avo id lo w sp o ts in a ya rd whe re c o ld , d a mp a ir a c c umula te s in winte r.

  It is p o ssib le to ke e p ho ne y b e e s in c ro wd e d sub urb a n a re a s, o n tiny c ity lo ts o r o n

ro o fto p s in la rg e o r sma ll c itie s witho ut p ro b le ms. Ho we ve r, ke e p ing b e e s suc c e ssfully in a

p o p ula te d a re a re q uire s a g o o d und e rsta nd ing o f b a sic b e e b io lo g y, p ro p e rty rig hts a nd

huma n p syc ho lo g y. Be e ke e p e rs in sub urb s a nd c itie s ne e d to ma na g e the ir b e e s so the y

d o no t b e c o me a nuisa nc e to the ir ne ig hb o rs. Pla c e hive s so tha t b e e flig ht p a ths d o no t

c ro ss sid e wa lks, p la yg ro und s o r o the r p ub lic a re a s.

NJ  Regulations 

  The NJ De p a rtme nt o f Ag ric ulture ha s d e ve lo p e d the fo llo wing b e st ma na g e me nt p ra c tic e s fo r b e e ke e p e rs to re d uc e p o te ntia l c o nflic t with ne ig hb o ring p ro p e rty o wne rs.

  1. The re must b e no mo re tha n thre e hive s o f ho ne y b e e s p e r lo t size o f o ne -q ua rte r a c re o r le ss.

  2. No hive o f ho ne y b e e s will b e ma inta ine d within 15 fe e t o f a b o und a ry line o f the p ro p e rty o n whic h the hive is lo c a te d .

  3. All c o lo nie s must b e lo c a te d a t le a st 25 fe e t fro m a p ub lic sid e wa lk, a lle y, stre e t o r ro a d s.

  4. All a p ia rie s must ha ve o n site a n a d e q ua te so urc e o f wa te r within 25 fe e t o f the hive (s) a t a ll time s (e sp e c ia lly b e twe e n Ma rc h 1st a nd O c to b e r 31st).

  5. A 6-fe e t hig h so lid fe nc e o r he d g e must b e e re c te d if the c o lo nie s a re within 10 fe e t o f a ne ig hb o r’ s p ro p e rty.

  6. All b e e e q uip me nt a nd hive s must b e ma inta ine d in g o o d c o nd itio n.

  7. All c o lo nie s must b e ke p t in mo ve a b le fra me hive s in a c c o rd a nc e with N.J.S.A.4: 6-10.

  8. All c o lo nie s must b e insp e c te d b y the b e e ke e p e r o r his d e le g a te no le ss tha n thre e time s b e twe e n Ma rc h 1 a nd O c to b e r 1 o f e a c h ye a r.

  

9. A sub sta ntia l b a rrie r/ fe nc e must b e e re c te d to p re ve nt a nima ls a nd c hild re n fro m c o ming into c lo se

c o nta c t with the hive s.

  10. All Be e ke e p e rs who ke e p b e e s o ve r the winte r a re re q uire d to re g iste r with the sta te . (Ag p zo lt)

   

Apiculture

 

Insects   Inse c ts Inse c ta

  (C la ss ) a re a ma jo r g ro up o f a rthro p o d s a nd the mo st d ive rse g ro up o f a nima ls o n the Ea rth, with o ve r a millio n d e sc rib e d sp e c ie s—mo re tha n ha lf o f a ll kno wn living o rg a nisms—thus p o te ntia lly re p re se nting o ve r 90% o f the life fo rms o n the p la ne t. (Inse c t) Inse c ts p o sse ss se g me nte d b o d ie s sup p o rte d b y a n e xo ske le to n, a ha rd o ute r c o ve ring ma d e mo stly o f c hitin. The se g me nts o f the b o d y a re o rg a nize d into thre e re g io ns, o r ta g ma ta ; a he a d , a tho ra x, a nd a n a b d o m e n. The he a d sup p o rts a p a ir o f se nso ry a nte nna e , a p a ir o f c o mp o und e ye s, o ne to thre e simp le e ye s ("o c e lli") a nd thre e se ts o f va rio usly mo d ifie d a p p e nd a g e s tha t fo rm the mo uthp a rts. The tho ra x ha s six le g s (o ne p a ir e a c h fo r the p ro tho ra x, me so tho ra x a nd the me ta tho ra x se g me nts ma king up the tho ra x) a nd two o r fo ur wing s (if p re se nt in the sp e c ie s). The a b d o me n (m a d e up o f e le ve n se g me nts so me o f whic h ma y b e re d uc e d o r fuse d ) ha s mo st o f the d ig e stive , re sp ira to ry, e xc re to ry a nd re p ro d uc tive inte rna l struc ture s. (Inse c t)

Honey  Bee Breeds 

  Ne w b e e ke e p e rs fa c e the d iffic ult d e c isio n o f whic h stra in o r ra c e o f b e e to o rd e r. To d e te rmine whic h ra c e o r stra in o f b e e wo uld b e st suit yo ur o p e ra tio n a nd e nviro nme nt. Ho ne y b e e s va ry in tra its suc h a s te mp e ra me nt, d ise a se re sista nc e , a nd p ro d uc tivity d e p e nd ing o n the ir b re e d . Ne w b e e ke e p e rs o fte n lo o k fo r g e ntile te mp e ra me nt a s the ir mo st d e sire d tra it. The e nviro nme nt ha s a la rg e e ffe c t o n d iffe re nc e s a mo ng b e e c o lo nie s (fo r e xa mp le , p la nts in d iffe re nt a re a s yie ld d iffe re nt ho ne y c ro p s), b ut the g e ne tic ma ke up o f a c o lo ny c a n a lso imp a c t the c ha ra c te ristic s tha t d e fine a p a rtic ula r g ro up . Be e ke e p e rs ha ve lo ng kno wn tha t d iffe re nt g e ne tic sto c ks ha ve d istinc tive c ha ra c te ristic s, so the y ha ve utilize d d iffe re nt stra ins to suit the ir p a rtic ula r p urp o se . (NC SU) Be e sto c k re fe rs to a p a rtic ula r g ro up o f b e e s. The se g ro up s a re o fte n d e fine d b y the ir sp e c ie s, ra c e , re g io n, p o p ula tio n, o r b re e d e r. The se a re the se sto c ks while so me b e ing p o p ula r a re no t e ntire ly we ll kno wn. Be e sto c k p o p ula rity rise s a nd fa lls d e p e nd ing o n b e e ke e p e r ne e d a nd p ro d uc tivity. (NC SU)

Stocks:  

   – (Apis mellifera ligustica)  Italian

  Ita lia n ho ne y b e e s we re b ro ug ht to the U.S. in 1859. The y q uic kly b e c a me the fa vo re d b e e sto c k in this c o untry a nd re ma in so to this d a y. Kno wn fo r the ir e xte nd e d p e rio d s o f b ro o d re a ring , Ita lia n b e e s c a n b uild c o lo ny p o p ula tio ns in the sp ring a nd ma inta in the m fo r the e ntire summe r. The y a re le ss d e fe nsive a nd le ss p ro ne to d ise a se tha n the ir G e rma n c o un- te rp a rts, a nd the y a re e xc e lle nt ho ne y p ro d uc e rs. The y a lso a re ve ry lig htly c o lo re d , ra ng ing fro m a lig ht le a the r hue to a n a lmo st le mo n ye llo w, a tra it tha t is hig hly c o ve te d b y ma ny b e e ke e p e rs fo r its a e sthe tic a p p e a l.

  De sp ite the ir p o p ula rity, Ita lia n b e e s ha ve so me d ra wb a c ks. First, b e c a use o f the ir p ro lo ng e d b ro o d re a ring , the y m a y c o nsum e surp lus ho ne y in the hive if sup e rs (re mo va b le up p e r se c tio ns whe re ho ne y is sto re d ) a re no t re mo ve d imme d ia te ly a fte r the ho ne y flo w sto p s. Se c o nd , the y fre q ue ntly ro b the ho ne y sto re s o f we a ke r o r d e a d ne ig hb o ring c o lo nie s. This b e ha vio r ma y p o se p ro b le ms fo r Ita lia n b e e ke e p e rs who wo rk the ir c o lo nie s d uring time s o f ne c ta r d e a rth, a nd it ma y c a use the ra p id sp re a d o f tra nsmitta b le d ise a se s a mo ng hive s. (NC SU)

   Carniolan ‐ (Apis mellifera carnica)  The

  The sub sp e c ie s A. m . c a rnic a , fro m mid d le Euro p e (Slo ve nia Re g io n), a lso ha s b e e n a fa vo re d b e e sto c k in the U.S. fo r se ve ra l re a so ns. First, the ir e xp lo sive sp ring b uild up e na b le s this ra c e to g ro w ra p id ly in p o p ula tio n a nd ta ke a d va nta g e o f b lo o ms tha t o c c ur muc h e a rlie r in the sp ring , c o mp a re d to o the r sto c ks. Se c o nd , the y a re e xtre me ly d o c ile a nd c a n b e wo rke d with little smo ke a nd p ro te c tive c lo thing . Third , the y a re muc h le ss p ro ne to ro b b ing o the r c o lo nie s o f ho ne y, lo we ring d ise a se tra nsmissio n a mo ng c o lo nie s. Fina lly, the y a re ve ry g o o d b uild e rs o f wa x c o mb s, whic h c a n b e use d fo r p ro d uc ts ra ng ing fro m c a nd le s, to so a p s, to c o sme tic s. (NC SU) Be c a use o f the ir ra p id b uild up , ho we ve r, C a rnio la n b e e s te nd to ha ve a hig h p ro p e nsity to swa rm (the ir e ffo rt to re lie ve o ve rc ro wd ing ) a nd , the re fo re , ma y le a ve the b e e ke e p e r with a ve ry p o o r ho ne y c ro p . This sto c k re q uire s c o ntinue d vig ila nc e to p re ve nt the lo ss o f swa rms. (NC SU)

  The  New World Carniolan 

  The Ne w Wo rld C a rnio la n wa s o rig ina lly e sta b lishe d in 1982 b y Susa n C o b e y a nd Tim La wre nc e in C a lifo rnia . C a rnio la n sto c k fro m a c ro ss the U.S. a nd C a na d a wa s c o lle c te d , b a c k c ro sse d , a nd e va lua te d to e sta b lish the fo und a tio n p o p ula tio n. Instrume nta l inse mina tio n a nd stric t a nnua l e va lua tio n p ro to c o l we re fo llo we d to ma inta in the NWC b re e d ing p ro g ra m. In 1990 the NWC b re e d ing p ro g ra m wa s mo ve d to O hio Sta te Unive rsity. A c o o p e ra tive e ffo rt b e twe e n O SU a nd Stra c ha n Ap ia rie s c urre ntly ma inta ins a nd p ro p a g a te s the sto c k. (Stra c ha n Ap ia rie s Inc .)

The  Caucasian – (Apis mellifera caucasica) 

  A. m . c a uc a sic a is a ra c e o f ho ne y b e e s na tive to the fo o thills o f the Ura l Mo unta ins ne a r the C a sp ia n Se a in Ea ste rn Euro p e . This sto c k wa s o nc e p o p ula r in the U.S., b ut it ha s d e c line d in re g a rd o ve r the la st fe w d e c a d e s. Its mo st no ta b le c ha ra c te ristic is its ve ry lo ng to ng ue , whic h e na b le s the b e e s to fo ra g e fo r ne c ta r fro m flo we rs tha t o the r b e e sto c ks ma y no t ha ve a c c e ss to . The y te nd to b e a mo d e ra te ly d a rk c o lo re d b e e , a re e xtre me ly d o c ile . Ho we ve r, the ir slo w sp ring b uild up ke e p s the m fro m g e ne ra ting ve ry la rg e ho ne y c ro p s, a nd the y te nd to use a n e xc e ssive a mo unt o f p ro p o lis—the stic ky re sin sub sta nc e so me time s c a lle d “ b e e g lue ” tha t is use d to se a l c ra c ks a nd jo ints o f b e e struc ture s—ma king the ir hive s d iffic ult to ma nip ula te . (NC SU) Ho we ve r, Turkish sc ie ntist stud ie d the c he mic a l p ro p e rtie s a nd a ntib a c te ria l a c tivity o f thre e typ e s o f p ro p o lis c o lle c te d fro m thre e d iffe re nt ra c e s o f ho ne y b e e s. The p ro p o lis ma d e b y the C a uc a sia n ho ne y b e e sho we d the hig he st a ntib a c te ria l a c tivity. Se ve ra l Ja p a ne se sc ie ntists ha ve sho wn tha t p ro p o lis inhib its the g ro wth o f Le uke mia C e lls a nd d e c re a se s the g ro wth o f Sa rc o m a C a nc e r. (Fulto n)

The  German ‐ (Apis mellifera mellifera) 

  The G e rma n o r “ b la c k” b e e a re no t na tive to the Ne w Wo rld , a ltho ug h No rth Am e ric a ha s a b o ut 4,000 na tive sp e c ie s o f b e e s. Ho ne y b e e s we re b ro ug ht to Am e ric a in the 17th c e ntury b y the e a rly Euro p e a n se ttle rs. This sto c k is ve ry d a rk in c o lo r a nd te nd s to b e ve ry d e fe nsive , ma king b e e ma na g e me nt mo re d iffic ult.

  O ne o f the G e rma n b e e s’ mo re fa vo ra b le c ha ra c te ristic s is tha t the y a re a ha rd y stra in, a b le to survive lo ng , c o ld winte rs in no rthe rn c lima te s. Ho we ve r, b e c a use o f the ir d e fe nsive na ture a nd the ir susc e p tib ility to ma ny b ro o d d ise a se s (suc h a s Ame ric a n a nd Euro p e a n fo ulb ro o d ), this sto c k lo st fa vo r with b e e ke e p e rs we ll o ve r a c e ntury a g o . Altho ug h the fe ra l b e e p o p ula tio n in the U.S. wa s o nc e d o mina te d b y this stra in, ne wly intro d uc e d d ise a se s ha ve ne a rly wip e d o ut mo st wild ho ne y b e e c o lo nie s, m a king the G e rma n b e e a ra re sto c k a t this time . (NC SU)

   Buckfast  The

  In the 1920s, ho ne y b e e c o lo nie s in the British Isle s we re d e va sta te d b y a c a rine d ise a se , whic h no w is susp e c te d to ha ve b e e n the e nd o p a ra sitic tra c he a l mite Ac a ra p is wo o d i. Bro the r Ad a m s, a mo nk a t Buc kfa st Ab b y in De vo n, Eng la nd , wa s c ha rg e d with c re a ting a b e e sto c k tha t c o uld withsta nd this d e a d ly d ise a se . He tra ve le d the wo rld inte rvie wing b e e ke e p e rs a nd le a rning a b o ut d iffe re nt b e e stra ins, a nd he c re a te d a sto c k o f b e e s, la rg e ly fro m the Ita lia n ra c e , tha t c o uld thrive in the c o ld we t c o nd itio ns o f the British Isle s, ye t p ro d uc e g o o d ho ne y c ro p s a nd e xhib it g o o d ho use c le a ning a nd g ro o m ing b e ha vio r to re d uc e the p re va le nc e o f d ise a se . Be e s o f this sto c k a re mo d e ra te ly d e fe nsive . Ho we ve r, if le ft unma na g e d fo r o ne o r two g e ne ra tio ns, the y c a n b e a mo ng the mo st fie rc e ly d e fe nsive b e e s o f a ny sto c k. The y a lso a re mo d e ra te in sp ring p o p ula tio n b uild up , p re ve nting the m fro m ta king full a d va nta g e o f e a rly ne c ta r flo ws. (NC SU)

   Russian  The

  O ne o f the ne we r b e e sto c ks in the U.S. wa s imp o rte d fro m fa r-e a ste rn Russia b y the U.S. De p a rtme nt o f Ag ric ulture ’ s Ho ne y Be e Bre e d ing , G e ne tic s, a nd Physio lo g y La b o ra to ry in Ba to n Ro ug e , Lo uisia na . The re se a rc he rs’ lo g ic wa s tha t the se b e e s fro m the Primo rski re g io n o n the Se a o f Ja p a n, ha ve c o e xiste d fo r the la st 150 ye a rs with the d e va sta ting e c to p a ra site Va rro a d e struc to r, a mite tha t is re sp o nsib le fo r se ve re c o lo ny lo sse s a ro und the g lo b e , a nd the y mig ht thrive in the U.S. The USDA te ste d whe the r this sto c k ha d e vo lve d re sista nc e to va rro a a nd fo und tha t it ha d . Nume ro us stud ie s ha ve sho wn tha t b e e s o f this stra in ha ve fe we r tha n ha lf the numb e r o f mite s tha t a re fo und in sta nd a rd c o mme rc ia l sto c ks. The q ua ra ntine p ha se o f this p ro je c t ha s b e e n c o mp le te sinc e 2000, a nd b e e s o f this stra in a re a va ila b le c o mme rc ia lly. (NC SU)

  Russia n b e e s te nd to re a r b ro o d o nly d uring time s o f ne c ta r a nd p o lle n flo ws, so b ro o d re a ring a nd c o lo ny p o p ula tio ns te nd to fluc tua te with the e nviro nme nt. The y a lso e xhib it g o o d ho use c le a ning b e ha vio r, re sulting in re sista nc e no t o nly to va rro a b ut a lso to the tra c he a l mite . The y ha ve e xc e lle nt wind e r ha rd ine ss. Be e s o f this sto c k e xhib it so me unusua l b e ha vio rs c o mp a re d to o the r stra ins. Fo r e xa mp le , the y te nd to ha ve q ue e n c e lls p re se nt in the ir c o lo nie s a lmo st a ll the time , whe re a s mo st o the r sto c ks re a r q ue e ns o nly d uring time s o f swa rming o r q ue e n re p la c e me nt. Russia n b e e s a lso p e rfo rm b e tte r whe n no t in the p re se nc e o f o the r b e e stra ins; re se a rc h ha s sho wn tha t c ro ss- c o nta mina tio n fro m susc e p tib le sto c ks c a n le sse n the va rro a re sista nc e o f the se b e e s. (NC SU)

  The  Minnesota Hygienic  

  This sto c k ha s b e e n se le c te d fo r its e xc e p tio na l ho use c le a ning a b ility, sig nific a ntly re d uc ing the ne g a tive e ffe c ts o f mo st b ro o d d ise a se s. (NC SU) The y a re b re d a t the Unive rsity o f Minne so ta thro ug h se le c tive ly b re e d ing C o rd o va ns fo r hyg ie nic b e ha vio r.

  The  SMR (a.k.a. VMR) 

  This sto c k, re fe rring to “ Sup p re ssio n o f Mite Re p ro d uc tio n,” a lso wa s d e ve lo p e d b y the USDA ho ne y b e e la b in Lo uisia na b y a rtific ia lly se le c ting c o mme rc ia l sto c ks fo r mite re sista nc e . While no t a n ind e p e nd e ntly via b le sto c k o n its o wn (b e c a use o f inb re e d ing ), the SMR tra it ha s b e e n inc o rp o ra te d into o the r g e ne tic sto c ks so tha t the se sto c ks ma y a lso e xp re ss this hig hly d e sire d c ha ra c te ristic . (NC SU)

   Cordovan (Italian Subspecies)  The

  This b e e is a typ e o f Ita lia n b e e tha t ha s a ve ry e ye c a tc hing lig ht ye llo w c o lo r. (NC SU) The c o rd o va n c o lo r va ria tio n d o e s no t c o nstitute a d iffe re nt ra c e . The sing le re c e ssive g e ne tha t d e te rmine s the c o rd o va n c o lo r, wo rks o n the sa me p rinc ip le tha t b lue a nd b ro wn e ye o p e ra te s in p e o p le .

  The  Midnight (Hybrid) 

  This hyb rid b e e wa s d e ve lo p e d b y c ro ssing the C a uc a sia n a nd C a rnio la n sto c ks, ho p ing to ma inta in the e xtre me g e ntle ne ss o f b o th stra ins while re mo ving the e xc e ssive p ro p o lis o f the C a uc a sia ns a nd minimizing the swa rming p ro p e nsity o f the C a rnio la ns. (NC SU)

The  Starline (Hybrid) 

  This wa s d e ve lo p e d fro m nume ro us stra ins o f the Ita lia n sto c k b y G la d sto ne C a le o f the Da d a nt Be e C o mp a ny. It wa s o nc e fa vo re d b y c o mm e rc ia l b e e ke e p e rs b e c a use o f its tre me nd o us ho ne y yie ld s, p a rtic ula rly in c lo ve r, b ut the p o p ula rity o f this sto c k ha s d e c line d in re c e nt d e c a d e s. (NC SU)