Bee colony

Beekeeping is becoming more popular. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates that honey production increased to 19 percent between 2013 and 2014, with the average hive producing upwards of 65 pounds.1 With a little know-how, starting a hive is a sweet way to support pollinators and turn a hobby into delicious honey.

In this series, backyard beekeeping for beginners, I hope to share some important things to think about before beginning the journey of keeping bees.

Colony Life of a Honey BeeLife in the colony is entirely dependent upon the time of year. Honey bee colonies can get all of their resources from flowers. As a result, the life cycle of the colony follows the life cycle of flowering plants in the environment. Every spring honey bees start to build up their work force in preparation for the bloom of spring flowers. In the

Life Cycle of a honey Bee, explaining the cycle of the egg the queen bee lays to how they get looked after by the bees and fed. The time it takes to hatch.

Open-air colonies in regions with cold winters are not common, so they tend to receive a lot of attention. Here are examples from both side of the country.

Can you name one of the types of honeybees? 🤔 A honey bee colony consists of three adult bees: queen, drones, and workers. Thousands of worker bees collaborate to build homes, collect food, and raise broods. Each member is responsible for doing a task appropriate for their age. Were you able to name one? Tell us about it in the comments! #beemanhoneystix #honeystixincalifornia #honeybees

Wild bee colony, Ontario (photo by P. Thoem)

If you ask us, every bee in the hive is a fascinating creature! However, there’s one bee, in particular, that stands above the rest for her unique role in the survival of a honey bee colony. Let’s learn a little more about the queen bee by sharing 5 interesting facts about her and her role in the colony! 👇 🐝 5 Things to Know About the Queen Bee ⤵️

About our two honeybee colonies and species-appropriate beekeeping.

Learn how to recognize the various types of honey bee brood in a hive. Successful colony management depends on it.