Bee Kind

Now that the days are warming up there is a lot more activity going on outside. Nature is waking up. Birds are out, insects are emerging and this means the honeybee is becoming active.

Honeybees have been around for more than 30 million years. They can fly 20 mph and an average beehive can hold about 50,000 bees.

Swarms of bees are a phenomena that is most likely in the spring and fall each year. Swarms develop when a hive gets too full or crowded. The bees in the old hive make a new queen and she flies off with most of the younger bees of the colony to find a new place to live. The swarm lands on something that will enable them to stay huddled together while a few scout bees fly on to try to locate a suitable place to build a new hive.

Nesting cavities may include buckets, cans, empty boxes, old tires, or any container ranging in volume from as little as 2 to 10 gallons and more. Bees will also choose used vehicles, lumber piles, holes and cavities in fences, trees, and the ground, in sheds, garages, and other outbuildings between walls or in the open, low decks or spaces under buildings. Seal openings greater than1/8-inch in walls, around chimneys, plumbing, and other openings. Install screens (1/8-inch hardware cloth) over rainspouts, vents, cavities of trees and fence posts, water meter/utility boxes, etc. It is a good idea to look around your home and remove potential nesting sites.

What to do if a swarm of honeybees comes to your place:

1. Leave them alone! Chances are they will fly off.

2. If they stay, leave them alone and call a beekeeper.

Call the extension office (325-646-0386) or police department (325-646- 2525) for the telephone numbers of a local beekeeper.

3. Do not use any mechanical equipment around swarms or hives.

4. Do not use diesel, hot water, fire, or anything else to get rid of them. It will just make them angry, aggressive and chances are you will not solve the problem.

What about Africanized honeybees, the so-called “killer bees”? Yes, Brown County has Africanized bees. Generally, Africanized bees are smaller than domesticated honeybees, but the bees look so much alike that only lab analysis can tell them apart. The same safety tips apply, however.

Other bee safety tips:

	Listen for buzzing and look for bees entering or leaving the same area indicating a nest or swarm of bees.
	Examine work areas prior to using noisy power equipment such as lawn mowers, weed cutters, and chain saws.
	Do not swat at bees. Move away from the bees as quickly as possible.

We need bees. They pollinate our food crops. Learn more about honeybees, they are fascinating! Take a look at the website http://www.gpnc.org/honeybee.htm to learn more.

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Keep Brownwood Beautiful

PO Box 1105/114 Center Avenue Suite 201

Brownwood, TX 76804

325.641.0533

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Cary Perrin

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Last modified: 2-1-08 Designed by Nuovo Adventures copyright 2008 caryleigh@verizon.net