General Interest
- Eva Crane
- Education
- Hygienic Behaviour
- Pesticides and Bees
- Products from Beekeeping
- Honey Recipes
- Native Pollinators
- Planting for Pollinators
- Bee Lining
- Pictures and Posters
- Webinars
- Honey Bee Science
- Bees of the World
- Africanized Bees
Bees in Decline: Factors that put European Pollinators and Agriculture at risk (Greenpeace)
Bees in the Green Movement by Dr. James Tew (Auburn University)
The Honey Bee - Interesting Facts
Honey Bees in House Walls (Ohio State University)
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| Beekeeping shown in the tomb of Pabasa (Egypt c. 650 BC) |
The value of bees in ancient
Egypt
The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting by Eva Crane
"This book is the first book to explore in detail the world history of
man’s use of bees from prehistoric times to the present day. It gathers
together a vast amount of information in an eminently readable text.
From archaelogical evidence about bee hives in Ancient Egypt to the Maya
people of Mesoamerica who kept stingless bees, Dr Crane recognieses the
variations in methods and yet there are some uncanny similarities. It
wasn't until the 1600 that beekeeping techniques started to change in
Europe, which culminated in 1851 with L L Langstroth's moveable frame
hives being produced in the USA. The subsequent changes in beekeeping,
based on scientific knowledge, brings the history up to date. There are
over 500 illustrations and extensive bibliographies and
appendices." IBRA Here is a preview of this amazing book. The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting.
Historical Beekeeping Videos
Origins and Evolutionary History of the Honey Bee by Robert Paxton
A History of Beekeeping with Bill Mares
A brief history of Humans and Apis Mellifera by Dr. Adam Ingrao
Beekeeping and Honey Production 1920's
Magical Beehive Story (Dance) from the early 1900's
1925 - Bijenmarkt (Bee Market) Veenendaal, Netherlands Hand slapping and dogs
1927 - New York - Girl tends to her Langstroth Bee Hive
1931 - Bee Market, Tilburg, Netherlands Pipe smokers
1930's - Dutch Bee Market Skeps
1933 - The Keeper of the Bees Commercial
Magical Beehive Story (Dance) from the early 1900's
1925 - Bijenmarkt (Bee Market) Veenendaal, Netherlands Hand slapping and dogs
1927 - New York - Girl tends to her Langstroth Bee Hive
1931 - Bee Market, Tilburg, Netherlands Pipe smokers
1930's - Dutch Bee Market Skeps
1933 - The Keeper of the Bees Commercial
Thirties Beekeeping Part 1 Oldies but goodies
Thirties Beekeeping Part 2 Oldies but goodies
Thirties Beekeeping Part 3 Oldies but goodies
Thirties Beekeeping Part 4 Oldies but goodies
Thirties Beekeeping Part 5 Oldies but goodies
Het Bijenvolk The Bee Community (Dutch)
Beekeeping on the Move 1947 Australia
1948- British Transparent Bee Hive Observation
1956 - Lassie - The Bee Hive
1961 Bee Research Foraging
1965 - Bees for Export British
Women in Beekeeping History
Bee Smoker History Smokers
Het Bijenvolk The Bee Community (Dutch)
Beekeeping on the Move 1947 Australia
1948- British Transparent Bee Hive Observation
1956 - Lassie - The Bee Hive
1961 Bee Research Foraging
1965 - Bees for Export British
Women in Beekeeping History
Bee Smoker History Smokers
Africanized Bees
Despite the B Movie title some good info in this movie on Africanized bees (i.e. range including Utah, Colorado...) and Vespa mandarinia (Murder Hornet).
Honey hunting in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (India) by Kunal
Sharma
Predator Effects Shape Honey Bee Dancing (University of
Calilfornia)
A lecture given by Juliana Rangel (Texas A&M) at the 2015 National Honey Show entitled "Africanized Honey Bee Biology"
"The Western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) originated in the Old World (Europe, Africa and the near East), where influenced by different selective environments, diversified into several subspecies (Ruttner, 1988). In the Americas, early European settlers introduced Western European A. m. mellifera and A. m. iberiensis, followed by later introductions of Eastern European races, mainly A. m. ligustica (Whitfield et al., 2006). Thus, up to 1956, honey bees of predominantly European-descent existed in the Americas. In that year, Brazilian researchers introduced queens of A. m. scutellata and A.m. adansonii, from South Africa and Tanzania to the state of São Paulo, Brazil, to develop a selective breeding program (Kerr, 1967). European honey bees (EHBs) kept in Brazil were not well adapted to tropical conditions, and a hybrid bee could be better suited for these regions (Kerr, 1967). An accident caused the release of pure African colonies, which interbred with locally existing EHBs, thereof, originating the so-called Africanized honey bee (AHB) through the process of Africanization (Nogueira-Neto, 1964; Rinderer and Hellmich, 1991).
The process of Africanization is one of the most dramatic invasion events by any animal species (Page, 1989; Clarke et al., 2002). In spite of many attempts to stop the advance of AHBs, they expanded rapidly and produced large feral populations, which in the course of 30 years, colonized most of the Americas displacing resident EHBs, except in temperate areas, presumably because of reduced adaptation to these environments (Rinderer and Hellmich, 1991; Schneider et al., 2004). In their northward and southward advance, AHBs disrupted beekeeping in many countries of South and Central America, in part, because the beekeeping industry was not extensively developed and only low concentrations of EHB colonies existed (Rinderer and Hellmich, 1991; Rinderer et al., 1991). In contrast, Mexico has one of the highest concentrations of managed EHB colonies worldwide, and a great diversity of climates, ecosystems and beekeeping regions (Labougle and Zozaya, 1986; Quezada-Euán, 2007). In Mexico, beekeeping is a major activity of great economic and social importance, making the country the sixth world’s largest honey producer and the third largest honey exporter (Programa Nacional para el Control de la Abeja Africana [PNCAA], 2010)..." from the study "The Process and Outcome of the Africanization of Honey Bees in Mexico: Lessons and Future Directions"
The process of Africanization is one of the most dramatic invasion events by any animal species (Page, 1989; Clarke et al., 2002). In spite of many attempts to stop the advance of AHBs, they expanded rapidly and produced large feral populations, which in the course of 30 years, colonized most of the Americas displacing resident EHBs, except in temperate areas, presumably because of reduced adaptation to these environments (Rinderer and Hellmich, 1991; Schneider et al., 2004). In their northward and southward advance, AHBs disrupted beekeeping in many countries of South and Central America, in part, because the beekeeping industry was not extensively developed and only low concentrations of EHB colonies existed (Rinderer and Hellmich, 1991; Rinderer et al., 1991). In contrast, Mexico has one of the highest concentrations of managed EHB colonies worldwide, and a great diversity of climates, ecosystems and beekeeping regions (Labougle and Zozaya, 1986; Quezada-Euán, 2007). In Mexico, beekeeping is a major activity of great economic and social importance, making the country the sixth world’s largest honey producer and the third largest honey exporter (Programa Nacional para el Control de la Abeja Africana [PNCAA], 2010)..." from the study "The Process and Outcome of the Africanization of Honey Bees in Mexico: Lessons and Future Directions"
 |
| Spread of Africanized Honey Bees through the Americas |
Potential Range of Africanized Bees in the United States (University of Georgia)
"As Africanized bees expand into temperate areas, their tropical adaptations are less advantageous. Cold weather seems to limit both their defensiveness and overwintering capacity. Africanized bees are more defensive in warm tropical regions and less so in cooler zones. In South America the bees do not overwinter south of 34 degrees S latitude, which corresponds roughly to Atlanta, Georgia. (Please note, however, that Africanized bees are found north of this latitude in the American West.). In areas where their ranges overlap, African- and European-derived bees interbreed, causing “hybrid zones” where bees share African and European traits. In Argentina, Africanized bees dominate in the northern semitropical regions but European bees dominate in the southern temperate areas; the area in between (ca. 32-34 degrees latitude) is a hybrid zone where bees have varying degrees of African or European traits. A similar pattern may occur in the United States, with African traits dominating in southern regions. In spite of the alarm surrounding Africanization, these bees have not caused widespread or permanent chaos. Dramatic stinging incidents do occur, but the quality of life for most people is unaffected. Typically, the commercial beekeeping industries of Africanized areas suffer temporary decline and then eventually recover."
Websites
Jimmy Doherty, pig farmer and star of Jimmy's Farming Heroes, travels to Nepal to meet an ancient group of people who risk their lives to farm their local honey. A keen beekeeper with a passion for honey, Jimmy has always been blown away by the sheer variety of flavours, appreciating a good honey like others enjoy a fine wine. So when he heard about an ancient group of people in Nepal who are willing to risk their lives to taste their local honey, he knew he wanted to share the experience. As a 'honey hunter' Jimmy must scale a massive cliff to reach the home of more than two million bees and dangle 200 feet up to get their honey. If successful, the reward is not only to learn more about these amazing bees, but also to taste one of nature's finest bounties, beautiful wild honey.
The Giant Japanese Hornet is the fiercest looking insect on earth, and one of the deadliest. This film follows the remarkable life of one giant hornet queen, as she emerges from hibernation and starts to build up a colony in an old temple garden. Her army of warriors terrorize the beautiful mountain valley in their constant struggle to find food for their hungry grubs. In a series of dramatic pitched battles, the giant hornets massacre thousands of bees, but victory isn't always assured - one local honeybee fights back thanks to a remarkable defensive strategy, and suddenly it is the hornets that are dying. A beekeeper monk bears witness to the rising power of the giant hornet colony, and despite the hornet's attacks on his own bees, he reveals a deep respect for these incredible predators.
Beekeeping in the Maya Region of Mexico
Keeping Africanized Bees in Belize
Beekeeping in Jamaica (Government of Jamaica)
Creative Beekeeping ideas from Eastern Europe
Beekeeping in Greenland by Ole Hertz (B.F.D.)
Beekeeping in Greece by F. Hatjina (Hellinic Institute of Apiculture)
Beekeeping at Tel Rehov (Israel)
Beekeeping Training for Farmers in the Hymalayas
Hymalayan Honey Bees and Beekeeping in Nepal by R. Thapa
Improving Indian Bee Hives and Beekeeping by J. Abbott (M.I.T.)
Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (Northeast India)
Beekeeping in S.W. Ethiopia by P. Gallmann and H. Thomas
Bee Hive Construction and Beekeeping Training for Zimbabwe Youth
Bees and Red Light (Night time hive inspection in Africa - B.F.D.)
Apiculture in Oku, Cameroon Earning a Living from the Kilum-Ijim Forest
Women's Collective in Mexico works to save Stingless Bees
Women's Collective in Mexico works to save Stingless Bees
Hope is Golden: The Fair Trade Honey story from Brazil
Japan's (Tokyo) rooftop bees Japan
Urban beekeeping San Francisco
Bees Without Borders Many developing countries
Nongtraw Village, India Agrobiodiversity
Anita the Beekeeper (India) Culture Unplugged
Honey for the Maya Mexico
Ceremonia de Miel Yucatan Stingless honey bees
Bees in the world by Eric Tourneret Bees in the World
Bees in the world by Eric Tourneret Bees in the World
Freelance photographer since 1989, Eric Tourneret is today recognized internationally as "the bee photographer". He presently lives in the Ardèche region of France. His childhood near Annecy, France, between lakes and mountains, attuned him to the beauty of natural settings. At the age of 17, he discovered Africa, the desert and encounters with various other cultures. He was introduced to photography in studios where he worked with fashion and advertising photographers, with specialists in lighting and visual creation. He then travelled the world during fifteen years bringing back ethnic and social feature stories for the Press. When French beekeepers’ efforts to have systemic insecticides prohibited alerted him to the disappearance of the bees, Eric began an in-depth work in 2004 on apiculture by immersing himself in the life of the hive. His innovative photographs were put together in a first published work "Le peuple des abeilles" (The Bee Nation) and have appeared in many publications in the international press. In 2007, he expanded his investigations on a worldwide scale with a series of features on the relation of humans to bees, from the most archaic harvesting methods to industrial and commercial beekeeping. His work was published in 2009 under the title "Cueilleurs de miel" (The Honey Gatherers).
Since then, Eric Tourneret has continued his travels, exploring the great beekeeping traditions in Slovenia, Germany and Turkey. He has encountered the nomads of Ethiopia and the Pygmies of the Republic of the Congo, the giant bees of India and Indonesia, the stingless bees of Brazil, Costa Rica and also the killer bees of Panama. He has discovered urban apiculture in New York, London, Berlin, Hong Kong… and the dangerous Asian hornet that has arrived in France, the perpetual honey flows in Australia and hand pollination in China.
Exhibited at photography Festivals, in Natural History Museums, Botanical Gardens, his images testify to a world in transition and reveal the causes of the disappearance of the bees. These ten years of discovering bees and people have resulted in an exhibition on the Fences of the French Senate, Paris France. Eric Tourneret’s work was recently exhibited at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
To view some of Eric's photography visit his website . (Youtube channel).
BBC Natural World 'Queen of the Savannah' from Ember Films on Vimeo. The queen African honeybee rules the savanna - even elephants panic at the buzzing of her hive. This recreates the life of the queen and her colony as they fight to survive. Ground-breaking close-up photography shows a bee-eye view of their world, from the queen murdering her sisters to fighting off giant invaders and eventually migrating across the savanna to the great Mount Kenya. To watch the documentary click on "watch on vimeo".
A lecture given by Norman Carreck at the National Honey Show 2013 entitled "Science and the thinking beekeeper".
Bee Science Websites
Organic Bee Pollen: Origin, Value, Compounds, Activity and Quality
(Scientific study)
The Main Driver in Aging in Long-Lived Winter Honey Bees
Altered Physiology of Honey Bees Infested with Varroa
Alternative Strategies in Central Europe for Control of Varroa
Methods for Characterising subspecies of Apis Mellifera (IBRA)
Ecological Adaptations of Diverse Honey Bee populations (U.B.C. and Agr-Food Canada)
Mating between Apis Cerana and Apis Mellifera in Australia (Australian Government)
Polyandry (multiple mates) in Honey Bees (H. Laidlaw and R. Page)
The Impact of Polyandry and Drifting on Honey Bee Genetics (P. Neumann)
Drifting Behavior of Honey Bees and the effect of AFB
Factors influencing Honey Bee Queen Drifting (Apidologie.org)
Honey Bee Ability to Identify Colors White and Blue (Alexander Komissar)
A Thomas Seeley lecture on Bee Hunting
"In his new book, Following the Wild Bees (Princeton University Press), biologist Thomas Seeley, a world authority on honey bees, vividly describes the history and science behind a lost pastime: bee hunting. Once practiced widely but little known today, the tradition involves capturing and feeding honey bees, then releasing and following them back to their secret residences in hollow trees, old buildings or abandoned hives. Providing both practical tips and new insights into the remarkable behavior of bees living in the wild, Dr. Seeley’s book also offers a unique meditation on the pleasures of the natural world. As more people become aware of the essential role that honeybees play in our global agroecosystem, in Following the Wild Bees readers will find an excellent guide for learning an old craft and experiencing the rich insights gleaned from close observation of the teeming activity found in our everyday environment outdoors." From the Albert R. Mann Library
Thomas Seeley is the Horace White Professor in Biology in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell and the author of three previous books: Honeybee Ecology (1985, Princeton), The Wisdom of the Hive (1995, Harvard), and Honeybee Democracy (2010, Princeton).
Bee Hunting by John Lockard (1908)
Beehunting - A selection of 4 bee hunting videos that accompany the book "Follow the Wild Bees" by Thomas Seeley (1. Finding wild honey bees 2. Capturing bees 3. Marking 4. Following).
An Introduction to Bee Lining by D. Banks and D. Waterhouse
Bee-Lining as a Research Technique in Ecological Study of Honey Bees by Thomas Seeley
Bees in the Forest, Still by Tom Seeley
The Bee Hunter by George Edgell (l949)
Bee lining - from the University of Arkansas
A series of 8 videos on Bee Lining (including building a bee box)
The Main Driver in Aging in Long-Lived Winter Honey Bees
Altered Physiology of Honey Bees Infested with Varroa
Alternative Strategies in Central Europe for Control of Varroa
Methods for Characterising subspecies of Apis Mellifera (IBRA)
Ecological Adaptations of Diverse Honey Bee populations (U.B.C. and Agr-Food Canada)
Mating between Apis Cerana and Apis Mellifera in Australia (Australian Government)
Polyandry (multiple mates) in Honey Bees (H. Laidlaw and R. Page)
The Impact of Polyandry and Drifting on Honey Bee Genetics (P. Neumann)
Drifting Behavior of Honey Bees and the effect of AFB
Factors influencing Honey Bee Queen Drifting (Apidologie.org)
Honey Bee Ability to Identify Colors White and Blue (Alexander Komissar)
Bats (a bees friend)
Bats nocturnally forage for insects, many of them crop pests, potentially reducing the pesticide needed.
A Thomas Seeley lecture on Bee Hunting
"In his new book, Following the Wild Bees (Princeton University Press), biologist Thomas Seeley, a world authority on honey bees, vividly describes the history and science behind a lost pastime: bee hunting. Once practiced widely but little known today, the tradition involves capturing and feeding honey bees, then releasing and following them back to their secret residences in hollow trees, old buildings or abandoned hives. Providing both practical tips and new insights into the remarkable behavior of bees living in the wild, Dr. Seeley’s book also offers a unique meditation on the pleasures of the natural world. As more people become aware of the essential role that honeybees play in our global agroecosystem, in Following the Wild Bees readers will find an excellent guide for learning an old craft and experiencing the rich insights gleaned from close observation of the teeming activity found in our everyday environment outdoors." From the Albert R. Mann Library
Thomas Seeley is the Horace White Professor in Biology in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell and the author of three previous books: Honeybee Ecology (1985, Princeton), The Wisdom of the Hive (1995, Harvard), and Honeybee Democracy (2010, Princeton).
Bee Hunting by John Lockard (1908)
Beehunting - A selection of 4 bee hunting videos that accompany the book "Follow the Wild Bees" by Thomas Seeley (1. Finding wild honey bees 2. Capturing bees 3. Marking 4. Following).
An Introduction to Bee Lining by D. Banks and D. Waterhouse
Bee-Lining as a Research Technique in Ecological Study of Honey Bees by Thomas Seeley
Bees in the Forest, Still by Tom Seeley
The Bee Hunter by George Edgell (l949)
Bee lining - from the University of Arkansas
A series of 8 videos on Bee Lining (including building a bee box)
Thomas Seeley demonstrating bee hunting in
the field.
Bee Hunting: Finding a Wild Colony of Honey Bees (from Charles Walcott)
"One method of locating a colony of wild bees is called bee lining. In this video, we will join Prof. Tom Seeley as he tries to locate a wild colony of bees. He catches bees foraging on goldenrod and aster, feeds them concentrated sugar solution and determines the direction that they fly as they return to their colony. By painting identifying marks on some bees, he is able to measure their round trip time to get an estimate of the distance to the colony. With direction and distance established, he moves closer. Then, watching the bees, sees that they are living in a dead tree."
Eva Crane (12 June 1912 – 6 September 2007) was a
researcher and author on the subjects of bees and beekeeping. Trained
as a quantum mathematician, she changed her field of interest to bees,
and spent decades researching bees, traveling to more than 60
countries, often under primitive conditions. Her interest in
bees began when she and her husband received a beehive as a wedding
present; the giver had hoped that it would help supplement their
wartime sugar ration. Crane wrote over 300 papers, articles, and
books, many when she was in her 70s and 80s. Honey: A
Comprehensive Survey (1975), in which she contributed several
important chapters, and edited, came about because she told the
publisher (Heinemann Press) that a book on the subject was sorely
needed. Although now out of print, it remains the most significant
review on the subject ever written. A Book of Honey (1980) and The
Archaeology of Beekeeping (1983) reflected her strong interests in
nutrition and the ancient past of beekeeping.
Her writing culminated in two mighty,
encyclopedic tomes, Bees and Beekeeping: science, practice and world
resources (1990; at 614 pages) and The World History of Beekeeping
and Honey Hunting (1999; 682 pages). These distilled a lifetime's
knowledge and experience and are regarded as seminal textbooks
throughout the beekeeping world."Along with writing many books and
articles, Crane also helped create a beekeeping library, which held
many books on bees and beekeeping, and turned the small journal Bee
World into a well-known scientific magazine. Without
doubt she became one of the greatest writers on bees and beekeeping
in the 20th century. In January 1949 she established the Bee
Research Association (BRA). From the beginning this organization was
international in its aims and outlook but only became IBRA in 1976. "IBRA is internationally recognised as the
world’s primary source and foremost provider of information on
bees. Its database and information services, including journals,
teaching aids and other publications, embrace all bee species
whether managed by man for pollination or their products, or truly
wild. IBRA has one of the largest databases of scientific
information on bees and bee related interests in the world."
For more information on Eva Crane go to the Eva Crane Trust.
Amerindian honey hunting and hive beekeeping by Eva Crane
Amerindian uses of honey, wax and brood from stingless bees by Eva Crane
Ancient Apiculture by Eva Crane
Bee Hunting: Finding a Wild Colony of Honey Bees (from Charles Walcott)
"One method of locating a colony of wild bees is called bee lining. In this video, we will join Prof. Tom Seeley as he tries to locate a wild colony of bees. He catches bees foraging on goldenrod and aster, feeds them concentrated sugar solution and determines the direction that they fly as they return to their colony. By painting identifying marks on some bees, he is able to measure their round trip time to get an estimate of the distance to the colony. With direction and distance established, he moves closer. Then, watching the bees, sees that they are living in a dead tree."
Beelining with Jack Cross from Jackie Marro on Vimeo.
Her writing culminated in two mighty,
encyclopedic tomes, Bees and Beekeeping: science, practice and world
resources (1990; at 614 pages) and The World History of Beekeeping
and Honey Hunting (1999; 682 pages). These distilled a lifetime's
knowledge and experience and are regarded as seminal textbooks
throughout the beekeeping world."Along with writing many books and
articles, Crane also helped create a beekeeping library, which held
many books on bees and beekeeping, and turned the small journal Bee
World into a well-known scientific magazine. Without
doubt she became one of the greatest writers on bees and beekeeping
in the 20th century. In January 1949 she established the Bee
Research Association (BRA). From the beginning this organization was
international in its aims and outlook but only became IBRA in 1976. "IBRA is internationally recognised as the
world’s primary source and foremost provider of information on
bees. Its database and information services, including journals,
teaching aids and other publications, embrace all bee species
whether managed by man for pollination or their products, or truly
wild. IBRA has one of the largest databases of scientific
information on bees and bee related interests in the world."
For more information on Eva Crane go to the Eva Crane Trust.
Amerindian honey hunting and hive beekeeping by Eva Crane
Amerindian uses of honey, wax and brood from stingless bees by Eva Crane
Ancient Apiculture by Eva Crane
Bee Hives of the Ancient World Part 1 by Eva Crane
Bee Hives of the Ancient World Part 2 by Eva Crane
Bee shelters and bee boles in Cumbria by Eva Crane
Charles Darwin and bees by Eva Crane
Early English Beekeeping up to the end of the Norman period 1135 AD by Eva Crane
English beekeeping 1200-1850 by Eva Crane
A Survey of English beekeeping in 1086 by Eva Crane
History of beekeeping in English gardens Part 1 by Eva Crane
History of beekeeping in English gardens Part 2 by Eva Crane
Honey past, present and future by Eva Crane
Honeydew sources and their honeys by Eva Crane
Owen Thomas beekeeper and skep maker in the eighteenth century by Eva Crane
Physical properties, flavour and aroma of some honeys by Eva Crane and Penelope Walker
The shape, construction and identification of traditional hives by Eva Crane
The world's beekeeping past and present by Eva Crane
Traditional Bee Management as a basis for beekeeping development in the Tropics by Eva Crane et al
Traditional beekeeping in Vietnam by Eva Crane
Winter bee houses and cellars (history) by Eva Crane and Penelope Walker
The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting by Eva Crane
"This book is the first book to explore in detail the world history
of man’s use of bees from prehistoric times to the present day. It
gathers together a vast amount of information in an eminently
readable text. From archaelogical evidence about bee hives in
Ancient Egypt to the Maya people of Mesoamerica who kept stingless
bees, Dr Crane recognieses the variations in methods and yet there
are some uncanny similarities. It wasn't until the 1600 that
beekeeping techniques started to change in Europe, which culminated
in 1851 with L L Langstroth's moveable frame hives being produced in
the USA. The subsequent changes in beekeeping, based on scientific
knowledge, brings the history up to date. There are over 500
illustrations and extensive bibliographies and appendices." IBRA Here is a preview of this amazing book. The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting.
Bee Hives of the Ancient World Part 2 by Eva Crane
Bee shelters and bee boles in Cumbria by Eva Crane
Charles Darwin and bees by Eva Crane
Early English Beekeeping up to the end of the Norman period 1135 AD by Eva Crane
English beekeeping 1200-1850 by Eva Crane
A Survey of English beekeeping in 1086 by Eva Crane
History of beekeeping in English gardens Part 1 by Eva Crane
History of beekeeping in English gardens Part 2 by Eva Crane
Honey past, present and future by Eva Crane
Honeydew sources and their honeys by Eva Crane
Owen Thomas beekeeper and skep maker in the eighteenth century by Eva Crane
Physical properties, flavour and aroma of some honeys by Eva Crane and Penelope Walker
The shape, construction and identification of traditional hives by Eva Crane
The world's beekeeping past and present by Eva Crane
Traditional Bee Management as a basis for beekeeping development in the Tropics by Eva Crane et al
Traditional beekeeping in Vietnam by Eva Crane
Winter bee houses and cellars (history) by Eva Crane and Penelope Walker
The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting by Eva Crane
"This book is the first book to explore in detail the world history
of man’s use of bees from prehistoric times to the present day. It
gathers together a vast amount of information in an eminently
readable text. From archaelogical evidence about bee hives in
Ancient Egypt to the Maya people of Mesoamerica who kept stingless
bees, Dr Crane recognieses the variations in methods and yet there
are some uncanny similarities. It wasn't until the 1600 that
beekeeping techniques started to change in Europe, which culminated
in 1851 with L L Langstroth's moveable frame hives being produced in
the USA. The subsequent changes in beekeeping, based on scientific
knowledge, brings the history up to date. There are over 500
illustrations and extensive bibliographies and appendices." IBRA Here is a preview of this amazing book. The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting.
"Apart from her authoritative and well-researched books, Eva Crane
wrote many articles and texts for lectures. She kept a numbered list
of all her publications, in chronological order, adding a letter for
late additions, e.g. 004a, but the list does not include her many
signed/unsigned editorials and short features in Bee World. She also
filed a paper copy of each published article and unpublished
typescript (many amended by hand).
The list below, which is based on this
collection, contains 375 entries. Many of these have been scanned
and wherever possible they will be uploaded and accessible via this
web site. The following (marked * in the list) were not scanned:
non-beekeeping articles (pre-1945, labelled A-O); books; very long
chapters in books; and a few articles missing from the collection.
All pre-1989 publications are believed to be out of copyright, but
we have attempted to contact publishers for permission to upload the
scans available to view, whatever the date."
The role of neonicotinoid pesticides in bee health
Websites
Searchable Systemic Insecticides List (Xerces Society)
As a group, insecticides are perilous for insect life, including bees and other beneficial insects. Those insecticides designed to permeate plants from within—systemic insecticides—move through plants and may be present in all tissues after application, including pollen and nectar, posing unique risks for pollinators.
Given their widespread use, Xerces decided to offer an easily accessible reference to the insecticides currently registered in the U.S. that are known to—or possess the potential to—exhibit systemic movement in plants.
With this reference, you can retrieve information about these chemicals, such as their toxicity to bees, their persistence, the strength of their systemic activity, and where they can be legally used.
To read more about systemic insecticides, the risks they pose, how translocation works, and other details, click here.
Pesticides in and around the Hive with Dr. Reed Johnson
Protecting Bees from Pesticides
(Pacific Northwest Extension)
Protecting Honey Bees from Area-Wide Insecticide Applications (Purdue University)
Protecting Honey Bees from Pesticides (Purdue University)
Protecting Pollinators in Fruit and Vegetable Production (Purdue University)
Tips for Commercial Agricultural Pesticde Applicators (Purdue University)
Signs and symptoms of bee poisoning from Pesticides (Pacific Northwest Extension)
PoshBee aims to support healthy bee populations, sustainable beekeeping and pollination across Europe. Integrating the knowledge and experience of academics, beekeepers and farmers, PoshBee will:
- -provide the first pan-European quantification of the exposure hazard of chemicals to managed and wild bees;
- -determine how chemicals alone, in mixtures, and in combination with pathogens and nutrition, affect bee health, and;
- -meet the need for monitoring tools, novel screening protocols, and practice- and policy-relevant research outputs to local, national, European, and global stakeholders.
Individual Studies
Pesticides and Their Involvement in Colony Collapse Disorder (Penn State University) - For honey bees low levels of pesticides
have been shown to reduce associative learning of individual bees in
laboratory studies using the proboscis extension response (Decourtye et al,
2004), altering maze learning performance in free-flying bees (Decourtye, et
al. 2010) and the loss of foraging efficiency in radio tagged bees,
(Decourtye, et al. 2011). The precocious foraging of nurse bees from IGR
insecticides is also documented (Thompson et al. 2007). These changes in
learning and behavior can potentially alter normal colony level functions,
yet colony-level impacts remain to be verified. Honey bee larvae
reared in cells contaminated with the miticides fluvalenate or coumaphos
show a reduced developmental rate and delayed adult emergence along with
reduced adult longevity (Wu et al, 2011). These effects can have multiple
consequences for the colony including increased developmental time for
Varroa mites, reduced colony population dynamics and build up, as well as
potential shifts in worker division of labor. Whether or not the pesticides
associated with wax in the CART study (aboce) have similar impacts on larvae
remains to be determined. Fungicides have long been known to synergize with
some pesticides in laboratory toxicity bioassays (Iwasi et al, 2004). More
recently, we have determined that combinations of formulated pesticides and
fungicides fed to either adult worker bees or to larvae can have synergistic
effects on mortality. What happens when 3 or 4 or 5 different pesticide
mixtures are ingested by honey bee larvae or adults for substantial periods
of time?
The Bees Burden (University of Exeter (England)) - This study reports concentrations
of pesticides found in pollen brought back to hives by foraging bees, and
sampled using pollen traps (trapped pollen) or direct from the comb (comb
pollen, beebread). Twenty-five samples of comb pollen stored over winter
from the 2012 foraging season were obtained from locations in seven European
countries, and subsequently 107 samples of trapped pollen from the 2013
foraging season were obtained from locations in 12 European countries and
analysed at an accredited laboratory. In terms of the geographical areas
covered, and the numbers of samples taken simultaneously, this is one of the
most extensive studies of pesticides in bee-collected pollen carried out to
date. Residues of at least one of 53 pesticides (including 22
insecticides/acaricides, 29fungicides and two herbicides) were identified in 72 of the 107 trapped pollen samples, while residues of at least one of 17 pesticides (including nine insecticides / acaricides and eight fungicides) were identified in 17 of the 25 samples of comb pollen (beebread).
Implications of High Levels of Miticides and Pesticides in North American Apiaries (Penn State University and the U.S.D.A.) - "Honey bees across North America are extensively exposed to multiple pesticides. Brood nest wax and foundations, beebread and trapped pollen, and adult bees and brood comprising 749 samples contained 118 different pesticides and metabolites, 4894 total residues of which 748 were systemics, and averaged 6.5 detections per sample. In the 259 wax samples (Table 1) 87 pesticides and metabolites were found with up to 39 different detections in a single sample, averaging 8 different pesticide residues each. In the 350 pollen samples analyzed (Table 2), 98 pesticides and degradates were identified, with up to 31 different pesticides found in a single sample, and samples averaged 7.1 different pesticide residues each. The analysis of bees resulted in fewer detections (Table 3), and
averaged 2.5 residues per each of the 140 samples, with a maximum of 25 in one sample. Only one of the wax, three pollen and 12 bee samples had no detectable pesticides."
4 Common Pesticides highly toxic to Honey Bee Larvae (Penn State University and University of Florida) - Four
Common Pesticides, Their Mixtures and a Formulation Solvent in the
Hive Environment Have High Oral Toxicity to Honey Bee Larvae. "The
current study demonstrates the chronic oral and mixture toxicity of
common pesticides at hive levels to honey bees at the larval stage.
Most notable are the chronic larval toxicities of the fungicide
chlorothalonil and its synergistic combinations with frequently used
in-hive miticides, and the unexpected high toxicity of the formulation
ingredient N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone."
Impact of Neonicotinoid exposure on colony performance and Queen
Supersedure (University of Zurich, Swiss Bee Research Centre, University of
Berne and the University of Reading) - Impact of Chronic
Neonicotinoid Exposure on Honeybee Colony Performance and Queen
Supersedure. "In line with a recent meta-analysis [44], our results
clearly indicate that neonicotinoids negatively impact on honeybee colony
performance after chronic sublethal exposure throughout two brood
cycles."
Pesticide Exposure Increases susceptibility to Nosema (U.S.D.A., University of Maryland and the University of
California) - Crop Pollination Exposes Honey Bees to Pesticides Which
Alters Their Susceptibility to the Gut Pathogen Nosema ceranae.
"Our results combined with several recent studies of specific pesticides’
effects on Nosema infection dynamics [13–15] indicate that a detrimental
interaction occurs when honey bees are exposed to both pesticides and
Nosema."
Interactions between Nosema and neonicotinoids weakens honey bees (INRA - Europe's top agricultural research institute) - "We
demonstrated that the interaction between the microsporidia Nosema and a
neonicotinoid (imidacloprid) significantly weak-ened honeybees."
Exposure to Neonicotinoids effects learning and memory in Honey Bees (Newcastle University, UK) - "The experiments reported here show
that prolonged exposure to field-realistic concentrations of the
neonicotinoid imidacloprid and the organophosphate acetylcholinesterase
inhibitor coumaphos and their combination impairs olfactory learning and
memory formation in the honeybee."
Parasite-Insecticide interaction (Clermont University and CNRS)
In this study, we used a multi-residue method based on LC-MS/MS to analyze
samples of puddle water taken in the field during the planting of treated
corn and one month later. If honey bees were to collect and drink water from
these puddles, our results showed that they would be exposed to various
agricultural pesticides. All water samples collected from corn fields were
contaminated with at least one neonicotinoid compound, although most
contained more than one systemic insecticide. Concentrations of
neonicotinoids were higher in early spring, indicating that emission and
drifting of contaminated dust during sowing raises contamination levels of
puddles. Although the overall average acute risk of drinking water from
puddles was relatively low, concentrations of neonicotinoids ranged from
0.01 to 63 mg/L and were sufficient to potentially elicit a wide array of
sublethal effects in individuals and colony alike. Our results also suggest
that risk assessment of honey bee water resources underestimates the
foragers’ exposure and consequently miscalculates the risk. In fact, our
data shows that honey bees and native pollinators are facing unprecedented
cumulative exposure to these insecticides from combined residues in pollen,
nectar and water.
Videos
Third generation Ontario beekeeper's story
Conclusions drawn from multiple studies
Worldwide assessment of systemic pesticides - The Task Force on Systemic Pesticides is an independent group
of scientists from all over the globe, who came together to work on the
Worldwide Integrated Assessment of the Impact of Systemic Pesticides on
Biodiversity and Ecosystems. The mandate of the Task Force on Systemic
Pesticides (TFSP) has been “to carry out a comprehensive, objective,
scientific review and assessment of the impact of systemic pesticides on
biodiversity, and on the basis of the results of this review to make any
recommendations that might be needed with regard to risk management
procedures, governmental approval of new pesticides, and any other relevant
issues that should be brought to the attention of decision makers, policy
developers and society in general.” To this end a highly
multidisciplinary team of 30 scientists from all over the globe jointly made
a synthesis of 1,121 published peer-reviewed studies spanning the last five
years, including industry-sponsored ones. "The present scale of use,
combined with the properties of these compounds, has resulted in widespread
contamination of ag-ricultural soils, freshwater resources, wetlands,
non-target vegetation and estuarine and coastal marine systems, which means
that many organisms inhabiting these habitats are being repeatedly and
chronically exposed to effective concentrations of these insecticides." (175
pages)
Clothianidin adversely effects insect immunity - Neonicotinoid clothianidin adversely affects insect immunity
and promotes replication of a viral pathogen in honey bees.
Pesticide Exposure reduces foraging success and survival in Honey Bees - "As Henry et al.’s experiments so elegantly demonstrate, there is
no question that dietary thiamethoxam harms honey bee colonies by ele-vating
the mortality of adult foragers through navigation failure, at least when
the entire daily intake of a forager is consumed in a single dose."
Sublethal doses of a neonicotinoid pesticide and pathogens interact to
elevate honey bee mortality - "Through fully crossed experiments in which treatments were
administered singly or in combination, we found an additive interaction
between BQCV and thiacloprid on host larval survival, likely because the
pesticide significantly elevated viral loads."
Combined Pesticide Exposure severely effects Bees - "Here we show that chronic exposure of bumblebees to two
pesticides (neonicotinoid and pyrethroid) at concentrations that could
approximate field-level exposure impairs natural fora-ging behaviour and
increases worker mortality leading to signi-ficant reductions in brood
development and colony success."
Low dose pesticides effects on Bees - "At the end of the experiment, the hives with the bees that had
eaten the imidacloprid in the lab weighed 8% to 12% less than the 25
untreated hives—an indication that the bees had gathered less food and
produced fewer workers."
Neonicotinoids - Our Toxic Countryside - "How was all of this allowed to happen? How did the pesticide
companies manage to poison most of the world’s arable landscapes and kill
close to 10 million bee colonies as well as countless myriads of other
insects and birds? The answer is their profits buy ‘influence’.
More than $1 billion a year from Imidacloprid alone – and possibly $20
billion since 1992 – has enabled them, it is believed, to bully,
bribe, coerce, co-opt and persuade the governments, regulators
and universities of the developed world as well as national beekeeping
associations including our own BBKA."
Neonic effect on Honey bees - "So the disruption to the neurological signalling of honey bees by
Neonicotinoids means that they become disorientated. The chemicals impair
their communication, homing and foraging ability, flight activity, olfactory
discrimination (smell is also vital to bees communication systems), and
learning, and a weakened immune system."
Pesticides and honey bees (State of the Science 2012 PAN) - “The weight of evidence demonstrates that pesticides are indeed key
in explaining honey bee declines, both directly and in tandem with the other
two leading factors, pathogens and poor nutrition.”
Are Neonicotinoids killing Bees? (Xerces) - A Review of Research into the Effects of Neonicotinoid
Insecticides on Bees, with Recommendations for Action.
Bee Health The Role of Pesticides (Congress) - "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports
that overwinter colony losses from 2006 to 2011 averaged more than 32%
annually. This report provides a listing of the range of possible
factors thought to be negatively affecting managed and wild bee populations.
In addition to pesticides, other identified factors include bee pests and
diseases, diet and nutrition, genetics, habitat loss and other environmental
stressors, and beekeeping management issues, as well as the possibility that
bees are being negatively affected by cumulative, multiple exposures and/or
the interactive effects of each of these factors. Briefly summarizes
readily available scientific research and analysis regarding the potential
role of pesticides among the factors affecting the health and well-being of
bees, as well as the statutory authority and related regulatory activities
of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related to pesticide
use."
This is the first investigation of neonicotinoid insecticide concentrations
in “bee-friendly” nursery plants sold to consumers at garden centers in
cities across America. The findings indicate that bee-friendly nursery
plants sold at U.S. retailers may contain systemic pesticides at levels that
are high enough to cause adverse effects on bees and other pollinators —
with no warning to consumers. Neonicotinoid residues were detected in seven
out of thirteen samples (54 percent) of commercial nursery plants. In the
samples with detections, concentrations ranged from 11 to 1,500 micrograms
per kilogram (µg/kg or parts per billion) of plant material.
The 2008 food crisis was an important catalyst for realizing the need for a
fundamental transformation and questioning some of the assumptions that had
driven food, agricultural and trade policy in recent decades. The
world currently produces sufficient calories per head to feed a global
population of 12-14 billion. Around 1 billion people chronically
suffer from starvation and another billion are mal-nurished. Therefore
hunger and malnutrition are not a product of insufficient supply but results
of prevailing poverty and above all access to food. The world needs a
paradigm shift in agricultural development: from a “green revolution” to an
“ecological intensification” approach. This implies a rapid and
significant shift from conventional, monoculture-based industrial production
towards mosaics of sustainable, regenerative production systems that also
considerably improve the productivity of small-scale farmers.
Roundup (Glyphosate)
Roundup Alternatives - Roundup alternatives without glyphosate are available and can be effective. Organic brand options use naturally occurring oils or acids, and some alternatives can even be made with household ingredients. Farmers may find it easier to use different herbicides or farming methods (ConsumerNotice.org).
GMO's
The reason GMO studies are included is the increased useage of gm seeds
has resulted in a significant increase in pesticide application.
Planting for Pollinators by Bob Bruner of Purdue Extension ANR
General Planting Guides
Bee Friendly Planting Guide - This planting guide from the Australian Government is
particularly timely as there is increasing public concern for the well being
and survival of global honeybee populations following the reported colony
collapse disorder in the United States and Europe, and the threat to the
Australian industry of the destructive varroa mite. This guide to planting
choices from the backyard to the bush, right across the nation, will assist
with increasing the available bee food. Although this planting guide
is written from an Australian perspective most of the plants are grown
around the world.
Bee Protective Habitat Guide - This guide from "Beyond Pesticides" is designed to provide
information on pollinators with resources on pollinator-friendly habitat, as
well as pesticide use that contributes to declines in pollinator health. To
that end, the wildflower section contains perennial species that are known
to nurture bee populations in the U.S. The guide is divided into several
sections and is arranged by season to encourage gardeners and land
managers to plant flowers that will bloom all year round. Within each
season, plants are arranged in alphabetical order by common name. Bloom
months have been provided and are rated based on when they commonly begin to
bloom in the Midwest. Some species may continue blooming later into the
season depending on the location. Note that plant hardiness should be
referenced with the Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
*Your ability to grow a specific plant is not based on the country you live
in but on the plant hardiness. The world is divided into plant hardiness
zones which can be seen on the maps below. Though you should be able to grow
any plants from your hardiness zone you are encouraged to grow native
plants.
Websites
Webinars and Videos
Welcoming hummingbirds, bees and butterflies to your home garden (U.S. Fish and Wildlife)
Planting for Pollinators (University of Illinois)
Planting Pollinators (Vancouver Island)
The Pollinator Partnership is a great source of information on all topics related to pollinators and their environment in North America. They have a great collection of videos at their Pollinator Partnership Youtube channel and their website webinar collection.
Pollinator Planting for Farms
United Nations Report on Small Scale, Organic Farming - The 2008 food crisis was an important catalyst for realizing
the need for a fundamental transformation and questioning some of the
assumptions that had driven food, agricultural and trade policy in recent
decades. The fundamental transformation of agriculture may well turn
out to be one of the biggest challenges, including for international
security, of the 21st century. The world needs a paradigm shift in
agricultural development: from a “green revolution” to an “ecological
intensification” approach. The required transformation is much more
profound than simply tweaking the existing industrial agricultural system.
Planting for Pollinators in the U.S.
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Wildflowers of Texas: Part 1 (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center) - The annual sunflower is very useful and Native Americans
greatly valued it. They used for it medicines, fiber, cordage, and as a
highly nutritious food for both humans and cattle. The seeds could be ground
up and used to make bread. The shells were used to brew a pseudo-coffee. The
Incas believed that the sunflower was the physical manifestation of the Sun
God on Earth. The plant is an important part of the Iroquois creation myth.
Iroquois Creation Myth (from:
http://www.cs.williams.edu/~lindsey/myths/myths_12.html) Long before the
world was created there was an island, floating in the sky, upon which the
Sky People lived. They lived quietly and happily. No one ever died, or was
born, or experienced sadness. However, one day one of the Sky Women realized
she was going to give birth to twins. She told her husband, who flew into a
rage. In the center of the island there was a tree that gave light to the
entire island, since the sun hadn't been created yet. He tore up this tree,
creating a huge hole in the middle of the island. Curiously, the woman
peered into the hole. Far below she could see the waters that covered the
Earth. At that moment her husband pushed her. She fell through the hole,
tumbling towards the waters below...
Planting for Pollinators in Canada
Gardening with native plants on Vancouver Island - The three essentials: food, shelter and water. Seed and berry
producing shrubs feed and shelter birds. Provide a variety of food sources
through the seasons by leaving seed heads on plants. A water feature
(protected from cats and hawks) will attract many types of birds and
animals. Butterflies boycott pesticides. Feeding adults prefer certain
plant species, but missing plants for caterpillars often restricts butterfly
abundance. Plant poplar and willow, maintain areas of natural meadow, create
a mud puddle, and tolerate some chewed leaves. Swallowtail caterpillars eat
herbs with umbrella-like flowers including Spring Gold, Lomatiums, & Cow
Parsnip. Some butterflies overwinter in the leaf litter that renews the
soil. Plant tall sticks in sunny quiet spots for butterflies and
dragonflies to rest.
Planting for Pollinators throughout the World
Planting Guide for Honey and Australian Native Bees - The Australian honeybee industry provides essential benefits to the
agricultural and horticultural sector through managed and incidental
pollination services. Urban environments also benefit from the activities of
honeybees. Planting bee forage for honeybee nutrition can offer major
benefits to the industry and to society. However, listed weeds should
not be planted. Local nurseries will provide advice about which plants are
listed as weeds in your area. This planting guide for bee forage is
particularly timely as there is increasing public concern for the well being
and survival of global honeybee populations following the reported colony
collapse disorder in the United States and Europe, and the threat to the
Australian industry of the destructive varroa mite. This guide to planting
choices from the backyard to the bush, right across the nation, will assist
with increasing the available bee food.
Honey Bee Hygienic Behavior and Testing from Bee Informed
|
| Hygienic bees removing infested larvae |
Comparative study of the hygienic behavior of Carniolan and Africanized
honey bees (U. of Sao Paulo)
Pollinators
An Introduction to Native Bees (U.S.D.A and Pollinator Partnership)
Native bees are a hidden treasure. From alpine meadows in the national
forests of the Rocky Mountains to the Sonoran Desert in the Coronado
National Forest in Arizona and from the boreal forests of the Tongass
National Forest in Alaska to the Ocala National Forest in Florida, bees can
be found anywhere in North America, where flowers bloom. From forests
to farms, from cities to wildlands, there are 4,000 native bee species in
the United States, from the tiny Perdita minima to large carpenter bees.
Most people do not realize that there were no honey bees in America
before European settlers brought hives from
Europe. These resourceful animals promptly managed to escape from domestication. As they had done for millennia in Europe and Asia, honey bees formed swarms and set up nests
in hollow trees. Native pollinators, especially bees other than honey bees,
have been pollinating the continent’s
flowering plants since long before the
arrival of honey bees. Even in today’s vastly altered landscapes, they
continue to do the yeomen’s share of pollination, especially when it comes to native plants.
Native Bee Identification
Humble (Bumble) Bees
Conserving Bumble Bees: Guidelines for creating and managing habitat
(The Xerces Society)
Mason Bees
Stingless Bees
The Stingless Bees of the Yucatan: Preserving Mayan Meliponiculture by Diana Cohn
Making Native Bee Homes
Farming with Native Bees
Using native bees for farm pollination (College of Agricultural Sciences)
Products from Beekeeping
accessible market or the lack of knowledge about production and further
use are of major importance. While production methods of other
primary products can be adapted from common beekeeping texts, the further
elaboration and use of the same products can rarely be found. If so,
descriptions range from highly specific scientific results to
self-proclaimed experts fraudulently exploiting consumer ignorance. In
order to present a comprehensive and practical review this bulletin tries
to synthesize available information from scientific literature and
practical, technical literature including the few in-depth reviews
available on some of the primary bee products such as honey, Wax and
propolis. Worldwide the usage of such primary products as propolis,
royal jelly and bee venom have increased mostly due to inclusion in
cosmetic preparations. Medicinal use will increase once better and more
detailed studies are completed, which however may not yet be in the very
near future. The use of honey and other products has also increased in
many countries because of the increasing health awareness and the high
esteem of bee products in various processed and unprocessed forms..."
"Keeping bees requires knowledge and experience if it is to be done well.
This knowledge and experience can be obtained by observing and learning
from an experienced beekeeper or through study and practice. Once this has
been achieved, a well-qualified beekeeper can produce bee products.Even if
someone knows exactly how to keep bees, the products he or she produces
may not meet market demands and thus may not be able to provide a
sufficient income. It is important to realise that the products have to be
bought by others, who determine what demands must be met in order for the
products to be worth a certain selling price. One of the most
important market demands is quality. A product has to be consistently
good. It also has to be free of impurities and additives. It also
has to look good. The authors of this booklet are all experts in
their areas of beekeeping and are members of NECTAR. But this booklet is
not a scientific publication. Its aim is only to show how it is possible
to make good products with limited resources."
"While there are many ways to assess the quality of fresh produce—aroma,
firmness, texture—your customers can detect only the color of the honey.
Therefore your packaging—jar and label—is important. It should convey the
honey within is special and high quality. The section below outlines
Value-Added Products from Beekeeping
(United Nations, l996)
"Many of the beekeeping activities in developing countries in the past
have been oriented towards
honey production. Wax usually was a by-product and other possible products
have rarely found
consideration. Such neglect of other products has a variety of reasons
among which an easily
accessible market or the lack of knowledge about production and further
use are of major importance. While production methods of other
primary products can be adapted from common beekeeping texts, the further
elaboration and use of the same products can rarely be found. If so,
descriptions range from highly specific scientific results to
self-proclaimed experts fraudulently exploiting consumer ignorance. In
order to present a comprehensive and practical review this bulletin tries
to synthesize available information from scientific literature and
practical, technical literature including the few in-depth reviews
available on some of the primary bee products such as honey, Wax and
propolis. Worldwide the usage of such primary products as propolis,
royal jelly and bee venom have increased mostly due to inclusion in
cosmetic preparations. Medicinal use will increase once better and more
detailed studies are completed, which however may not yet be in the very
near future. The use of honey and other products has also increased in
many countries because of the increasing health awareness and the high
esteem of bee products in various processed and unprocessed forms..."
Bee Products
- Properties, Processing and Marketing (N.E.C.T.A.R)
"Keeping bees requires knowledge and experience if it is to be done well.
This knowledge and experience can be obtained by observing and learning
from an experienced beekeeper or through study and practice. Once this has
been achieved, a well-qualified beekeeper can produce bee products.Even if
someone knows exactly how to keep bees, the products he or she produces
may not meet market demands and thus may not be able to provide a
sufficient income. It is important to realise that the products have to be
bought by others, who determine what demands must be met in order for the
products to be worth a certain selling price. One of the most
important market demands is quality. A product has to be consistently
good. It also has to be free of impurities and additives. It also
has to look good. The authors of this booklet are all experts in
their areas of beekeeping and are members of NECTAR. But this booklet is
not a scientific publication. Its aim is only to show how it is possible
to make good products with limited resources."
Help the Honey Speak (Certified Naturally Grown)
- A Marketing Guide for Beekeepers with Naturally-Managed Apiaries
"While there are many ways to assess the quality of fresh produce—aroma,
firmness, texture—your customers can detect only the color of the honey.
Therefore your packaging—jar and label—is important. It should convey the
honey within is special and high quality. The section below outlines
your packaging options. Similarly you (or your representatives) have
an important role to play educating customers. Many people think “honey is
honey” and see no reason to pay a beekeeper $8 for something that costs $5
in the supermarket. Yet once they encounter an enthusiastic natural
beekeeper, many customers are delighted to connect the taste of a varietal
to its floral source, learn about how natural beekeeping helps the bees,
and do their part by purchasing honey from natural beekeepers.
You’ll need to decide whether to use glass or plastic, or some
combination. Plastic containers include various squeeze containers
and the new, inverted jar. They are lightweight and unbreakable, but
generally do not communicate the high-quality image you may favor for
your honey. Glass jars come in a variety of shapes and convey the
“artisanal” nature of your honey. And glass jars are preferred by
customers who avoid storing food in plastic. They are, however, heavy, so
in settings where customers will need to carry the honey some distance, a
plastic option or smaller jars might be desirable. By offering a
variety of sizes you accommodate the different needs of your customers.
Smaller sizes, including small sample-sizes, are very popular, make great
gifts, and tempt new customers to try your honey. Larger sizes offer your
regular customers a more economical and convenient option..."
Honey
Honey (Reference Guide - NHB) - "Honey has the capacity to serve as a natural food preservative.
Research has demonstrated the potential for honey to reduce enzymatic
browning in fruits and vegetables and prevent lipid oxidation in meats.
Most of the antibacterial activity of the honeys occurs due to hydrogen
peroxide generation. Other researchers have identified the flavonoids in
honey, particularly caffeic acid and ferulic acid, as the most likely
contributors. Honey is composed primarily of the sugars glucose and
fructose; its third greatest component is water. Honey also contains
numerous other types of sugars, as well as acids, proteins and
minerals.4,5 Carbohydrates are described by the number of sub-units they
contain. Fructose and glucose are monosac-charides, that is, simple
sugars. Sucrose, which is composed of fructose and glucose linked
together, is a disaccharide; it comprises a little over 1 percent of the
composition of honey."
How do bees make honey? (Khalil Hamdan)
How do bees make honey? It's not just bee barf. (Matt Shipman)
Honey and It's Uses (Malcolm T. Sanford)
Infant Botulism and Honey (University of Florida)
Honey (Reference Guide - NHB) - "Honey has the capacity to serve as a natural food preservative.
Research has demonstrated the potential for honey to reduce enzymatic
browning in fruits and vegetables and prevent lipid oxidation in meats.
Most of the antibacterial activity of the honeys occurs due to hydrogen
peroxide generation. Other researchers have identified the flavonoids in
honey, particularly caffeic acid and ferulic acid, as the most likely
contributors. Honey is composed primarily of the sugars glucose and
fructose; its third greatest component is water. Honey also contains
numerous other types of sugars, as well as acids, proteins and
minerals.4,5 Carbohydrates are described by the number of sub-units they
contain. Fructose and glucose are monosac-charides, that is, simple
sugars. Sucrose, which is composed of fructose and glucose linked
together, is a disaccharide; it comprises a little over 1 percent of the
composition of honey."How do bees make honey? (Khalil Hamdan)
How do bees make honey? It's not just bee barf. (Matt Shipman)
Honey and It's Uses (Malcolm T. Sanford)
Infant Botulism and Honey (University of Florida)
Determination of Botannical Origin of Honey (Inframiel.ch)
Honey Floral Source Guide (NHB)
Judging Liquid Honey (J. Ambrose)
Honey Floral Source Guide (NHB)
Judging Liquid Honey (J. Ambrose)
Apitherapy
Wax
Propolis
Propolis - Composition, Health, Medicine (Stefan Bogdanov)
The Benefits of Propolis (Dr. Marla Spivak)
The Benefits of Propolis (Dr. Marla Spivak)
Honey Reference Guide (National Honey Board) - Honey has the capacity to serve as a natural food
preservative. Research has demonstrated the potential for honey to reduce
enzymatic browning in fruits and vegetables and prevent lipid oxidation in
meats. Most of the antibacterial activity of the honeys occurs due to
hydrogen peroxide generation. Other researchers have identified the
flavonoids in honey, particularly caffeic acid and ferulic acid, as the most
likely contributors. Honey is composed primarily of the sugars glucose and
fructose; its third greatest component is water. Honey also contains
numerous other types of sugars, as well as acids, proteins and minerals.4,5
Carbohydrates are described by the number of sub-units they contain.
Fructose and glucose are monosac-charides, that is, simple sugars.
Sucrose, which is composed of fructose and glucose linked together, is
a disaccharide; it comprises a little over 1 percent of the composition of
honey.
Education
(for parents and teachers)
*The epub book format can be read using the free ebook reader Calibre.
*Some of the instructional material is appropriate for children and adults
(All)
Teaching (Lesson Plans and aids)
Bees
Act For Bees -
This is a great curriculum brought to you by the good folks at "Act for
Bees" and "Cool Australia". "We have partnered with ‘Cool
Australia- Learn for Life’ to create an exciting ‘Love Food?Love Bees!‘
curriculum for years 5/6 that can be downloaded from the
Cool Australia website
and taken straight into the classroom & also practically outside in the
garden!" Cool Australia has a wide range of good curriculum topics
connected to sustainability such as "Biodiversity", "Climate Change",
"Nature of Mindfulness", "Outdoor Learning", "Sustainability" and
"Indigenous Education". I highly recommend this as an amazing
curriculum resource for educators and students of all ages.
Beekeeping Projects K-3 (Stephen Bambara, N.C. State University) - This beekeeping project
for K-3rd grade youth offers learning activities that encourage and
strengthen positive interactions between parents (mentors or teachers) and
children. It uses the 1993 Experiential Learning Model by Deen and
Newman and Iowa State Univ. Extension Targeting Life Skills models as a
foundation. This project book is divided into two levels. Step I is for
children 5 and 6 years in age (with little required reading). Step II is for
children 7 and 8 years in age and uses more reading skills and is for
children who may have completed Step I and seek more activities. They are
best performed as a joint activity between adult and children. The
benefit of this subject is to introduce honey bees and beekeeping to our
youngest in a responsible way that will help them realize the importance of
honey bees and reduce potential fear of the insect.
Honey Bee Education Program (K-5) The following four lessons are designed to help you teach students
in grades K-5 many interesting facts about honey bees including Lesson A -
What are honey bees and why are they so important? Students will learn
what a honey bee is, the social structure of honey bees and their role in
the hive, and about the behavior of insects that are similar to honey bees.
Lesson B - How do honey bees make honey? What’s inside a honey bee, a hive,
and a flower? Students will learn what pollination is, how bees behave, how
beehives are constructed, what products are found inside the hive, the parts
of a honey bee, and the parts of a flower. Lesson C - What keeps a
beekeeper busy? Students will learn the difference between feral and managed
bee colonies, the basic structure of a beehive, what beekeepers do and the
equipment they use, and how beehives are moved around to help pollinate
crops. Lesson D - what are Africanized honey bees, and why should You,
“Bee Aware, Look, Listen, and Run”? Students will learn the importance of
managed honey bees, how to describe the differences between Africanized and
European honey bees, how to prevent Africanized bees from establishing nests
in and around their homes and schools, how to prevent potential stinging
incidents, and what to do if they are attacked by bees or other stinging
insects.
An Adventure with Bees created by Behany Swartz, Oakland University (8
lesson Grades 4-5) "Being in an elementary self-contained classroom setting, I chose to
integrate this curriculum by using the common theme of honeybees and pulling
the identified GLCEs and applying them to this unit. By using the
KNOW/DO/BE framework (Drake & Burns, 2004) as my main model, the major
goals of this unit are listed below.KNOW: “Bees are a life lesson. We
have much to learn about and from them” (Caron, 1999, p. I.9).
Students should broaden their knowledge of honey bees. They will
move from basic facts up through larger concepts and make generalizations
about the impacts of honeybees on our environment. DO: Eight focused lessons
provide visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (hands-on) learning with
extensions to provide students exposure to several aspects of honey bees.
Thisintergrated unit incorporates the subjects of science, math,
language arts, and technology.BE: Bees and wasps have gotten a “bad rap” and
negative image because of their ability to sting and cause fear in many
children. Caron remarks that, “…a lot of people know something about
honey bees. Bees have been admired, studied, cultured, feared and
valued, but not always understood” (p. I.3). At the conclusion of this unit,
I hope that students will view the honey bee not as an enemy, but instead as
a friend and advocate.I also kept in mind the aspects of backwards design
when creating my pre/post test and what I wanted the students to achieve.
After that, I designed my lessons to help me reach my goal."
A Bee's Life Teaching Guide (National Honey Board Grades 4-6) A fairly extensive teaching guide which includes the subjects, honey
bee biology, society, the hive, pollination, honey and beekeeping.
The Buzz About Bees Book 1 (4H Project - Virginia Cooperative
Extension) The beekeeping project (Books 1 - 4) will teach you the basic
biology and behavior of honey bees and give you hands-on management skills.
The honey bee project books begin with basic honey bee and insect
information (junior level) and advance to instruction on how to rear honey
bee colonies and extract honey (senior level). These project books are
intended to provide in-depth information related to honey bee management,
yet they are written for the amateur beekeeper, whether or not you have
previous experience in rearing honey bees.
4H Honey Bee Youth Project Book II (Virginia Cooperative Extension Grades
4-6) Equipment of Beekeepers.
Pollinator Gardens Habitat Program Curriculum and Activities Pre K - Gr.
12 (Pollinator Partnership - pollinator.org) Pollinator Partnership is pleased to provide this supplemental
curriculum packet as one way to enrich classroom education through a
butterfly and pollinator garden. It includes exercises to expand on and
enforce what students have learned about butterfly and pollinator gardens,
pollinators, other insects, their relatives and biodiversity. Included are:
• Lesson plans for activities relating to insects, ready to integrate into
subject areas across the elementary and middle school curriculum, including
language arts, math and science • Extension ideas for home • Background
information for the teacher • California State Content Standards
correlation.
Bee World Project Education Pack (IBRA) The Beeworld Project aims to promote the value of bees in schools
and communities. This education pack has been produced to help
teachers and other educators introduce bees, their activities and their
relationship with humans. It provides basic information for the study and
understanding of bees, and offers ideas for bee-related activities across
the curriculum and in support of Education for Sustainable Development and
Global Citizenship (ESDGC). Using this resource is an effective way to
get children interested in bees and pollination, and help them discover how
important these are to our daily lives. More detailed information about bees
and additional educational resources are available on the IBRA Beeworld Project website.
Honey (B.C. Agriculture) This unit on Honey has been designed for use in a Grade 11 or 12
Foods and Nutrition class but could also be modified for junior grades. The
teaching activities explore a range of topics including fun facts about
honey, how honey is gathered and processed, the types of and uses for honey,
cooking with honey, and finally, the problems currently faced by beekeepers
across the world. Lessons also explore honey as a sustainable food source
and encourage the student to compare and evaluate the product with sugar in
terms of its health benefits and ecological impact. The topic of Colony
Collapse Disorder is important especially as bees are so essential to
fertilization of food crops, and it is necessary that they feel empowered to
affect change. Each activity is self-contained and suggestions for extending
the lesson are given at the end of each.
The Honey Bee: A Teacher's Companion - (L.Johnson, Antioch University) This is an extensive exploration of
honey bees for the benefit of the class teacher. The text and
appendices provide material - poetry, music, fables, biographics, class
projects and further resources - to draw Apis Mellifera into the life of a
teacher and a class.
Busy Bees - Education Activity Book K-3 (Agriculture Canada) - Learning Objectives:
• learn terminology related to honeybees and beekeeping • learn about
honeybees, their life cycle and how honey is produced • understand what
pollination is, and how plants produce seeds and fruit • discover the role
of bees and the wind in pollinating plants • learn about the tasks and
responsibilities of beekeepers, and how honey is harvested • learn about the
products and by-products of beekeeping. Visit the "Bees A Honey of an Idea" virtual museum from the Canadian Agriculture and Food
Museum. This is a great online interactive experience that is
fun and educational for children of all ages.
School Resource Kit K1-6 (The Canadian Honey Council) - The activities presented in this
course relate to honey production. Although a fascinating subject in
itself, the resource does not restrict itself to providing facts and
information of honey bees and how honey is made. Instead honey
production is used as a vehicle to develop skills that will make students
better learners. The activities also help foster positive attitudes
towards self, others and our world.
Smithonian Pollinator Lesson Plans (Gr. 4-9) Smithsonian in Your Classroom’s purpose is to help you use the
educational power of museums and other community resources. Smithsonian in
Your Classroom draws on the Institution’s hundreds of exhibitions and
programs—from art, history, and science to aviation and folk life—to create
classroom-ready materials for grades four through nine. Each of the four
annual issues explores a single topic through an interdisciplinary,
multicultural approach. The Smithsonian invites teachers to duplicate
materials from this publication for educational use.
Kids Discover Bees - Reading Comprehension Skills
(Kidsdiscoverteachers.com) Power Vocabulary is a systematic and individualized approach to
vocabulary development that enables teachers to assist students to improve
their reading comprehension skills. Power Vocabulary consists of two
word groups—specialized and general-usage words.
Environmental Learning Program (Pollinators) K-6 This is a single lesson plan with the objective to observe the
interaction between flowers and pollinators.
Environmental Learning Program (Bees as Pollinators) K-6 This is a single lesson plan with the objective to observe the
interaction between flowers and honey bees as pollinators.
Environmental Learning Program (Pollinator Field Guides) K-6 The objective of this lesson plan is using various colors of pressed
flowers, create a field guide to pollinators to various colors of flower.
Africanized Honey Bee Activity Program (Children) This is a single lesson plan providing information on identifying
Africanized Honey Bees and their potential nesting sites.
Pollinator Activity Book (U.S.D.A. Gr. 4-7) Information and activities on bees and pollination.
Bees Visit Flowers (Teaching Guide) Bees visit flowers is a concept cartoon activity that evaluates
competing ideas using discussion of alternative explanations about
observable facts. Children decide which of the alternatives presented
represents the whole answer. They need to support or add to the statements
in the cartoon and to link these with their own observations.
Honey Bee Lapbook - Adaptable to different ages (Homeschoolshare.com) - Educational Information and activities on honey bees.
Designed to assist home schooling.
Bees and Flowers - Partners in Pollination (Oregon State University) - 6 lesson plans (Grades 6-8). The Rural Science Education
Program is a partnership between Oregon State University and local rural
K-12 schools for enrichment of the science curriculum with hands-on science
activities that encourage critical thinking in K-12 students about the
impacts of agriculture on the environment and the implications of advanced
scientific research on human lives.
The Bee Book (Haagen Dazs) An assortment of honey bee education and activities covering
the subjects of science, math, reading, writing and art (Grades 6-8).
What's The Buzz About (HobbyFarms.com) Single page honey bee educational information (all ages).
What Is Pollination (Pollinator.ca) (All ages)
Why Manage Pollination? (Pollinator.ca) (All ages)
Wild pollinators (Pollinator.ca) (All ages)
Powdered Sugar Sampling to monitor Varroa Powerpoint Presentation
(University of Delaware) (All ages)
Planet Bee Foundation is on a mission to change the world - one bee and one student at a time!
We are dedicated to creating a green-minded generation by spotlighting the struggling bee to foster environmental literacy, stewardship, and a pathway to STEM, empowering individuals to take action.
We present workshops and educational programs virtually and in-person to schools, nonprofits, summer camps, environmental centers, community gardens, and businesses. In our commitment to social justice, all of our programs are offered at NO OR VERY LOW COST, thanks to our generous donors and grantmakers. Schools that are Title 1 or whose students receive Free or Reduced Cost Lunch (FRCL) of 50% or more receive Planet Bee synchronous STEM Lesson taught by a Planet Bee educator as well as our asynchronous educational video lesson at no cost.
SLIDING SCALE PRICING FOR LESSONS
Schools that have less than 50% of students enrolled in the Free Reduced Cost Lunch (FRCL) program receive asynchronous educational video lessons at no cost and a reduced price for our synchronous STEM Lesson taught by a Planet Bee educator. We use the percentage of students who receive FRCL in your school to calculate your discount. We double that percentage and then apply it to the full price of our program. Individual Virtual Video Lessons - NO COST for all schools
The Environment
Environmental Education Story Book (Centre for Eco-Cultural Studies, Sri
Lanka - Ages 4-9) Stories are a perfect way to reach a young child’s attention as they
mix real issues and a fantasy world where everything is possible and
imagination is the only limit. They are a different way to create a genuine
interest in learning while also allowing children to become aware of the
different threats to the environment they live in. A mixture of these three
ingredients, school, English learning and storytelling has proven effective
in other places around the world, where entire conservationist movements
have been created around characters like the Easter Bilby in Australia. This
and other successes inspired the creation of this book. I hope it can of use
to facilitate English learning in Sri Lanka and in other regions where these
stories fit the biodiversity conservation context.
Books
The Travelling Beehive by Elena Garcia and Manuel Angel Rosado, Illustrated by
Juan Hernez
from
APOLO
- "The Travelling Beehive" is an amazing book for children of all ages.
I highly recommend it for every beekeeper, their children and
grandchildren. This book is wonderfully written by Elena Garcia and Manuel
Angel Rosado and beautifully illustrated by Juan Hernaz. It is
published by Apolo which is an organization dedicated to the preservation of
pollinators and their habitat. You can follow Polli the honey bee and
her friend Dipter the hover fly as they face the challenges of a
disappearing green space. They are joined in their struggle by Bazumba
the wild bee, Missus Bombus the bumblebee, Lepi the butterfly, her majesty
the queen, Dorian the farmer and Ramon the beekeeper. Sit back and enjoy the
The Travelling Beehive .
The Adventures of Beatrice the Bee created by
USGS Kids
The Adventures of Maya the Bee by Waldemar Bonsels
The adventures of Maya the Bee (Epub book format)
The adventures of Maya the Bee (Epub book format)
Videos
Activities and Projects
Education Resource Websites
Brushy Mtn Bee Farm
Caring for a new colony
(143 mins)
Installing a package of bees
(39 mins)
6 weeks as a beekeeper now what?
(108 mins)
Preparing for Fall with Kim Flottum
Getting ready for winter (91 mins)
Preparing for Fall with Kim Flottum
Getting ready for winter (91 mins)
Harvesting and extracting
(103 mins)
Making colonies from the ones you have
(90 mins)
Basic Mead making
(75 mins)
Candle making (65
mins)
IPM techniques
(95 mins)
Processing your wax
(75 mins)
Queen maladies
(117 mins)
Year 2 build up your hives!
(89 mins)
Brushy Mtn Farm Youtube channel has webinars and videos of virtually every topic related to beekeeping.
Hive Health Diagnostics (Barb Bloetsher) 56 mins - Play
Pesticides in and around the hive (Dr. Reed Johnson) - 58 mins Play
Questions from the hive (Dr. Reed Johnson) - 55 mins Play
Marketing Bee Products (Dr. Julie Fox - 54 mins) Play
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