Spring brings flowers, but it also brings a host of insects for us to deal with. We will face mosquitoes, flies, and gnats; but the insects most feared by people are those that sting. Bees, wasps, and hornets are abundant in Robeson County, and virtually every person in the county will encounter these stinging insects at least once during the summer.

Many of the bees, wasps, and hornets gather pollen from flowers, and in doing so, help pollinate those flowers. This is important for all plants but is especially important for the plants that provide the fruits and vegetables we enjoy.

Of all the pollinating insects, the honeybee is by far the most effective and the most important. It has been estimated that without honeybees, fruit and vegetable production would be reduced by more than 40 percent.

There is a tremendous amount of information on the Internet about honeybees. If you are interested in the subject, I encourage you to visit http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov/ for a variety of amazing facts and information.

Honeybees were on this earth about 20 million years before man. They are one of the oldest forms of animal life still in existence from prehistoric times. Recorded history tells of honey and honeycombs of wild bees being gathered as far back as 7000 B.C. At that time, this was the only source of sweetness known to man.

Honeybees originated in southern Asia, probably in the region of Afghanistan. The first record of the introduction of honeybees to the western hemisphere was in 1530 in South America. Colonists brought them to North America from Holland in 1638. Since bees visit a broad range of host plants and are able to conserve heat by clustering, they have become widely dispersed and are now found throughout the world.

Because of disease and pest problems, honeybee populations have decreased drastically in recent years. Wild, or native colonies, of honeybees are getting pretty scarce. There are not as many wild colonies of bees as there were years ago. Most of the honeybees that pollinate our flowers are from hives that are owned and managed by either commercial or hobby beekeepers.

During the next several weeks, you or one of your friends may encounter a swarm of wild honeybees. Do not be alarmed; honeybees are very docile when they swarm. Although not advisable for the novice like you and me, experienced beekeepers have no difficulty at all handling swarming bees with no protective clothing at all.

Honeybee swarms are nature's way of generating additional colonies of bees. This usually happens during the spring when there is an abundance of flowers, plenty of moisture, and mild temperatures. When conditions are right, a fertile queen bee will leave the colony and will actually recruit some of the bees to go with her. Those that decide to remain loyal to the old queen will remain in the hive.

The new queen, along with her new family, will search out a new site for their hive. The swarm may contain thousands of bees and may be as large as a bushel basket. They will alight on a limb, post, pole, or other convenient object while scouts go out to determine if there is enough food and suitable sites for the new colony of bees. If they find what they are looking for, they return to the group with the good news, and the colony will establish a new hive in that area. If not, they will move on in search of a favorable site.

If you encounter a swarm of bees, do not become alarmed. Don't disturb them; just call the Cooperative Extension Center at 910-671-3276. We have a list of beekeepers who are standing ready to go to the site to collect the swarm and move them to a suitable hive.

In addition to providing a valuable service, honeybees are fascinating insects to work with and can provide additional income for hobby beekeepers. The Robeson County Area Beekeepers Association meets each month to learn more about beekeeping and to share ideas among themselves. If you are interested in attending one of their meetings to learn more about the association or to learn more about the art of beekeeping, please call our office for more details.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 4/22/02