HONEY BEE
SWARMS
Has a large dark cluster of buzzing insects suddenly appeared hanging from a tree
branch in your yard? They are swarming honey bees. Want to know what to do with
them? Please, whatever you do, don't kill them! If you live in Gaston County,
North Carolina, call one of the volunteers on our swarm list and they will come out and
retrieve them. If you live in another county, contact your local Extension
Office to learn of local beekeepers who will retrieve swarms.Cli ck here
if bees are in the walls of your home.
Why Gardeners Love
Bees
Why all the fuss about honey bees? One-third of our food supply
depends on pollinators. Honey bees are the most important
pollinators of many fruits, vegetables, flowers and crops. Honey
bee populations have dropped drastically in recent years because
of two parasitic bee mites.
Scarce bees means lower fruit and vegetable
yields, especially melons, apples, squashes, and cucumbers.
The common or
domestic honey bee Apis mellifera was brought over to the
U.S. from Europe by the early colonists. Swarms escaped from
captivity and quickly flourished around the countryside. These
are not "wild" or "killer" bees: they are just descendents of
those which escaped captivity. Bees were very common until
pesticide use reduced those feral colonies; the proliferation of
bee mites has killed many more. Bees now need human help to
survive the mites, so raising bees has never been more important.
Scientists are working toward a solution to the widespread mite
problem.Some people fear being stung by a swarm. When a crowded hive swarms, a queen
leaves the old hive and goes looking for a new home. Often the
swarm will settle on a tree limb to rest for a while before
proceeding to a new location. With the queen go many worker bees,
each carrying a load of honey to feed the swarm during its
establishment period. These workers cluster tightly around the
queen. If you stay away from the swarm, they will not bother
you. The swarm will most likely leave of its own accord within a
few hours, so call the local beekeeper promptly to report its
location.back to the list
Many more beekeepers
are needed. Some county agents and beekeeping organizations
offer beekeeping classes. The classes are very inexpensive, and
there are immediate benefits to beekeeping gardeners. The
classes teach the techniques for a harmonious relationship
between bees and people. Placement of the hive, protecting the
bees from mites and predators, and collecting honey are all
taught in the classes. Contact your local Extension office or
the North Carolina Beekeepers Association, 1403 Varsity Drive,
Raleigh NC 27606 for more details. back to the
list
Mark Blevins , Horticulture Agent
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/
