The Beekeeping Course: What You Need to Know

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There are many career options for those interested in working with bees. While most people

know about beekeeping, there is more to this job than just putting on a suit and going inside a hive.

To become a successful beekeeper, you need to understand the science behind these creatures and

their habits so that you can create the perfect environment for them. There are several different

educational paths to consider if you want to work with bees. Working with bees poses unique

challenges; they’re sensitive to noise and smell, which makes it difficult for humans who are trying

to study or keep them as pets. These unique challenges require special training in order to be able

to successfully keep bees as an occupation. Whether you wish to pursue beekeeping as a hobby

or commercially. Barben Bees offers a course that will get you well on your way to getting started

in the world of beekeeping and the best way to get there.

Beekeeping Biology

The life cycle of the honey bee can be broken into three phases egg, larva, and pupa.

In South Africa, there are two different kinds of bees. Apis Melifera Scutellata and Apis Melifera

Capensis.

The entire process from egg to adult takes about 18-20 days.

Timing is critical for getting the harvest at the right time and for collecting the honey.

The queen bee is the centre of all hive activity. She lays up to 2,000 eggs per day during high

nectar periods.

Pests and diseases

Bees are exposed to a number of different pests and diseases. The best way to avoid these

is to keep your bees healthy by doing proper hive management and brood inspections.

Also, make sure you sterilize your equipment. Some of the most common pests and diseases

include American foulbrood, Varroa mites, European foulbrood, and Small Hive Beetles.

American foulbrood is a bacterial infection that affects larvae and pupae. It is not harmful to

humans, but it can wipe out your entire hive. Varroa mites are a type of external parasite

that can be devastating to an entire colony. for the most part we do not find much Verroa

mites in South Africa. Small Hive Beetles are one of the most destructive pests in the world

of beekeeping.

Honey vs pollination

Honey is the bees’ source of food, whereas pollination is the process of transferring pollen

from one flower to another. The main difference between these two is that honey is made

from flower nectar. It has a high sugar content and is harvested when the bees are ready

to store it for winter. Harvesting the honey is a delicate process that can take several hours.

Pollination is the process of moving pollen from one flower to another. The pollen is transferred

from the stamen to the pistil by bees. This is how plants are able to grow and reproduce.

Bees will use one flower as a nursery and store surplus pollen, as well as nectar, in a

honeycomb within the hive.

The Bottom Line

Bees play a critical role in our ecosystem, and even though they are constantly in

the news for the wrong reasons, they are a crucial part of life on Earth. Beekeeping

is a fascinating career path that requires a lot of hard work but is also very rewarding.

Barben Bees unpack all of these things and show you how to manage and care for your hive.