Apiculture/beekeeping SS1 Agricultural Science Lesson Note

Apiculture is the scientific method of rearing honeybees. Bee-keeping is an important part of small-scale integrated farming systems and works particularly well near natural forests or on integrated farms with abundant water and flowers.

A bee-keeper is called an apiarist. He specializes in keeping bees for the sole purpose of collecting honey, and other products of the hive (including beeswax, propolis, pollen, and royal jelly), pollinating crops, or producing bees for sale to other beekeepers. A location where bees are kept is called apiary or “bee-yard”.

TYPES OF BEES

There are two major types of bees. These are Indigenous bees and exotic bees:

1. Indigenous Bees: These are local bees commonly found in the local environment.

Characteristics Of Indigenous Bees

• They are majorly of African origin.
• They have smaller body size, height, low productive ability, lower growth rate, and lower honey and wax production.
• They are not very economical in terms of commercial production of honey and wax. An example is the African black bees.

2. Exotic Bees: These are bees imported from other countries to West Africa. These species are capable of interbreeding and hybridizing. Many bee breeding companies strive to selectively breed and hybridize varieties to produce desirable qualities such as disease and parasite resistance, good honey production, swarming behaviour reduction, prolific breeding and mild disposition. Some of these hybrids are marketed under specific brand names, such as the Buckfast Bee or Midnite Bee.

Examples of Exotic Bees:

i. Western honey bee (Apis milliers)

Italian bee (Apis mellifera ligustica)

ii. European dark bee (Apis mellifera mellifera)

1. Carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica)

iii. Mediterranean bee (Apis cerana)

IMPORTANCE OF APICULTURE

1. Apiculture provides products such as honey and wax that are used commercially.

2. Honeybees are responsible for pollination and thus help in increasing the yield of several plants

3. It is a source of income for the rearers.

4. It can be used to cure various ailments.

NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF HONEY

The honey which beekeepers harvest is made from nectar, a sweet sap or sugar syrup produced by special glands in flowers collected from both wild and cultivated plants. Nectar, the honey bees’ source of sugar or carbohydrates, and pollen, their source of protein and fat, make up their entire diet. Nectar contains 50-90% water, 10-50% sugar (mainly sucrose) and 14% aromatic substance; colouring materials and minerals. 

To transform nectar into honey, bees

reduce its moisture content, so that the final honey produced contains between 14-19% water and also add two enzymes which they produce in their body.

 PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES IN THE REARING OF BEES

1. Wear protective clothing materials to avoid being stung
2. Seek medical advice in the case of allergies
3. Beekeepers should have a standby first aid kit in the case of emergencies