The Buzz from Outside the Hive - FAQs for the Neighbors

The Buzz from Outside the Hive

FAQs for the Neighbors

How come I don't see as many honeybees now as I did when I was a kid?

In the late 1980's and early 1990's, a parasitic mite was accidentally introduced that preyed upon honeybees, both those kept by beekeepers, and those living in the wild. The "wild" honeybees were wiped out by this mite, and many beekeepers lost large numbers of their colonies to this pest. Today, most bees that you see are kept by a beekeeper, and any colonies in the wild, are some that got away from a beekeeper. Beekeepers have medications today to help control the pest, but colonies that swarm away from a beekeeper are usually doomed to die because of the mite.

Why are honeybees important?

That is a great question! Honeybees are one of our most important pollinators of the fruits and vegetables that we eat. There are many different pollinators in our world, but the honeybee is one of the most effective and efficient of them all. Honeybees are not native to the U.S., and were imported by the early settlers to pollinate the crops that they brought with them. Many of the fruits and vegetables that we enjoy were not native to the U.S., and the pollinators that were present here naturally did a poor job of pollinating these new species of plants the settlers brought with them. If not for honeybees, the produce department of the largest grocery store would be about 75% smaller! Apples, almonds, watermelon, cucumber, oranges, peaches, cherries, and cranberries are just a few of the many fruits and vegetables that rely on honeybees for proper pollination.


I am allergic to bees, and one sting will kill me!

My response to such a statement is "Have you ever been stung by a honeybee?", and "Has an allergist tested you for hyper sensitivity to honeybee venom?". Many people have been stung by "Bees" before, but very seldom is it by a honeybee. Wasps, especially Yellow Jackets ( which look a lot like honeybees), are very territorial and will sting with little or no provocation. Honeybees on the other hand, when away from the hive, are quite docile and will not usually sting unless they are handled or stepped on.

Is it safe for me to work outside?

Yes, as Honeybees are truly only interested in flowers/plants for nectar. Be mindful not to swat at them...if it's a Honeybee...they'll go on about their business. If you are going out to cut your grass, it would be best to do so in the late afternoon/evening when the Honeybees are on their way in for the night.

Can I have some honey?

I noticed that honey prices have soared over the past year. What happened? Several factors have come into play concerning honey prices in the past year. The wholesale price of honey went from approximately $.70 a pound to a high of $1.90 a pound in a span of 7 months! One thing that happened was that the U.S. would not accept several shipments of honey from China until it could be tested for chemicals that are banned in the U.S. Another thing was that the countries we normally import honey from didn't produce enough honey for export last year. Finally, in many parts of the U.S. the honey crop was way down from previous years. All of these factors converged at one time to help push up honey prices.


I live in a subdivision, and have no place to keep bees.

This is not usually a valid excuse for not keeping bees if you are truly interested in beekeeping. Many towns and communities do not ban beekeeping, and backyard beekeeping is a growing hobby. Neighbors can be a concern however. As a responsible beekeeper, you need to be aware of your neighbors and their concerns about beekeeping. First, out of sight, out of mind is the best philosophy. Put your hives in a location so that the neighbors cant see them. Consider fencing them off behind a 6' tall privacy fence. This will force the bees to fly up and over the heads of anyone in the area. Explain to your neighbors the importance of honeybees and their role in the environment. Let them know that away from the hive, honeybees are not aggressive, and will not sting unless they are handled or pinched. Don't advertise that you have bees. If you wear a bee suit, veil, gloves, etc, that is fine, but don't let your neighbors see you parade across the yard dressed like that. They will them begin to wonder about these "gentle" bees you are always talking about. Have a place where you can get dressed and not have the neighbors notice you. Be sure to take all honeybee complaints serious, and check into them. If a neighbor is complaining about bees in a birdbath, or hummingbird feeder, or swimming pool, deal with it. Find a solution to the problem. It could be as simple as having the neighbor drain the birdbath a couple of days while you supply them with water closer to the hive. Also, explain to your neighbors that sweet things will draw not only bees but other stinging insects as well. Don't leave cans of soda out, or spilled sweets, or lids off garbage cans. Finally, give them a few jars of the honey that you produced from your hives. Maybe a gift basket with a jar of honey, a honey dipper and a pair of rolled beeswax candles. If you just don't want to risk dealing with the neighbors, then find a local farmer, or someone who owns a piece of land, and talk to them about keeping bees on their property. Many landowners welcome beekeepers and would love to have hives on their property!


What do honeybees do?

At face value, this seems like a very simple question, but when we begin to think about it and answer the question, it becomes somewhat lengthy and complicated. First and foremost, honeybees are pollinators. They were brought to this country by the early settlers to pollinate the various crops and plants that they brought with them. Without the honeybee, the pollinators native to the U.S. didn't effectively pollinate these new crops, so the plants produced less than their full potential. The honeybee did a much better, and effective job of pollinating the crops. Next, honeybees produce honey. Honey is produced by mixing the nectar of plants with enzymes, and drying it in the hive. Honey is a combination of sugars, minerals and enzymes. Finally, honeybees produce other products in the hive as well. Beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly are all produced and collected from the hive.

How do I prevent my neighbor's bees from following me when I'm outside?

Your neighbor's bees suddenly take a liking to you and start buzzing you when you mow, don't swat and get frantic. Identify the culprit by first, making sure it is the honey bees that are following you, and not other wasps or insects (i.e. because you have a soda or food). I
If it is the honeybees, talk to your neighbor. This is not normal bee behavior as they will generally not pay any attention to people unless their hives are being tampered with. Let your neighbor know about this abnormal behavior so that the hive can be requeened or moved in order to calm the bees.


Why are the bees covering the front of my neighbor's hive?

This is normal, it is not a sign of an impending swarm.
More likely than not, it is hot outside and the bees are taking a break on the front porch of the hive to cool off and hang out. The technical term for this is 'bearding'.
While honeybees do like a warm hive - around 97 degrees or so - they like to cool off as well.


I see a cloud of bees around my neighbor's hive. Is this a swarm?

No. These are recently hatched bees who are taking a daily flight to get a break from their nursing duties, and to relieve themselves. Usually, the bees will be very active in front of the hive for 15 to 30 minutes per day. This will not be as noticeable during nectar flow because they have places to go and nectar to fetch.


How do I identify a honeybee?

A honeybee is a small, hairy insect that can usually be found on flowers or at a water supply. Vespids, on the other hand,have hard, slick bodies, and are generally easier to provoke than a honeybee.



What time of day to bees go out?

Honeybees are normally up and out very early...as soon as the sun is up...unless it is cold. 57 degrees or warmer (approximately) is when they will appear. As the sun begins to go down...so do the Honeybees...