Honey Bee Keeping I – SS2 Livestock Farming Lesson Note (Second Term)

Apiculture is the keeping of bees. Farmers keep bees for honey, beeswax, propolis and crop pollination, and can earn extra income without needing much land. Bees live in hives, which are placed in a site called an apiary. Beekeepers wear protective clothing and use a smoker to keep the bees calm while they work.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. State the meaning of apiculture and give reasons for keeping bees.
2. Name the three castes of bees in a hive and state the job of each.
3. Describe the types of beehive.
4. List the equipment a beekeeper uses and state what each item is for.
5. State the rules for choosing a good apiary site.

What is apiculture and why is it important?

Most people run away when they see a bee because they are afraid of being stung. Yet bees are some of the hardest-working “farm assistants” in the world. Apiculture is the name for bee keeping.

Why should we keep bees?

1. Honey production: This is the most famous reason. Honey is a natural sweetener that never spoils. It is used for food and as a medicine for coughs and wounds.
2. Pollination: This is the most important “hidden” job. As bees fly from flower to flower to get nectar, they carry pollen. Without bees, many of our crops like cocoa, mangoes and melons would not produce fruit.
3. Beeswax: We use the wax from the honeycombs to make candles, floor polish and lip balms.
4. Propolis: This is a “bee glue” that bees use to seal cracks in the hive. Humans use it as a powerful natural antibiotic.
5. Extra income: A farmer can sell honey and wax to make a lot of money without needing much land.

What are the species and castes of bees?

In Nigeria, we mostly work with the African honey bee (Apis mellifera adansonii). These bees are very active and protective of their home.

Inside every beehive, there is a “government” made up of three types of bees:

1. The Queen: There is only one Queen. She is the mother of everyone. Her only job is to lay thousands of eggs every day. She is longer than the other bees.
2. The Workers: These are all females. They do all the hard work: cleaning the hive, feeding the babies, guarding the entrance, and flying miles to find nectar.
3. The Drones: These are the males. Their only job is to mate with the Queen. They do not have stingers and they do not gather food.

What are the types of beehive?

To keep bees, you need to provide them with a safe “box” to live in. We call this a hive.

• Traditional hives: These are made from hollowed-out logs, clay pots or woven baskets. They are cheap, but it is hard to get the honey out without killing the bees.
• Modern hives (the Kenya Top Bar Hive): This is very popular in Nigeria. It is a long wooden box with bars across the top. The bees build their combs on these bars.
• Langstroth hive: This looks like a chest of drawers. It is more expensive but allows the farmer to harvest a lot of honey easily.

What equipment does a beekeeper need?

You cannot work with bees in your school uniform. You need special protective clothing and tools to stay safe and keep the bees calm.

1. The bee suit: A white overall made of thick cloth. Bees dislike dark colours (like black or brown) because they think the wearer is a predator such as a bear or a honey badger.
2. The veil: A hat with a fine mesh net to protect your face and neck from stings.
3. Gloves and boots: Thick leather gloves and rubber boots to cover your hands and feet.
4. The smoker: This is a small metal can with a bellows. You burn dried grass or wood shavings inside. The smoke tells the bees there is a “fire”, so they rush to eat honey to prepare to leave. When their bellies are full of honey, they become calm and lazy, making it safe for you to work.
5. Hive tool: A flat metal bar used to pry open the hive parts, because bees seal everything shut with their “glue” (propolis).

How do you choose a good apiary site?

The place where you keep your beehives is called an apiary. You cannot just put it anywhere. A good apiary follows these rules:

• Away from people: Do not put hives near a school, a busy road, or where cattle graze. You do not want the bees to sting innocent people or animals.
• Near water: Bees get thirsty. There should be a small stream or a shallow water basin nearby.
• Near flowers: Put the hives near fruit trees or farms so the bees do not have to fly too far for food.
• Shady area: The hives should be under trees so they do not get too hot under the Nigerian sun.
• Protection from ants: Just like with snails, grease the legs of the hive stands to keep “soldier ants” away.

What should you do if a bee flies around your head?

Do not wave your hands or scream. Stay very still and walk away slowly. Bees usually only sting when they feel you are attacking them.

Evaluation

1. Name the three types of bees in a hive.
2. Why do we use smoke when opening a hive?
3. Why is white the best colour for a bee suit?
4. State two reasons for keeping bees.
5. Why should an apiary be near water?

Assignment

1. List the three types of beehive and state one feature of each.
2. Write five rules for choosing a good apiary site and give a reason for each.