Understanding the World The Beekeeper A beekeeper (or apiarist) keeps bees in order to collect their honey and other products that the hive produces (including beeswax, propolis, flower pollen, bee pollen, and royal jelly), to pollinate crops, or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers. A location where bees are kept is called an apiary. Bees are in danger of disappearing from our environment. The honey bee is under attack from a large wasp species not native to the UK called the Asian hornet. Varroa mites which are parasites that live on the body of the bees established themselves in the UK in the 1990s. Most wild honey bee colonies have died out as a result of Varroa mite. Pesticide use on farmers fields and in urban gardens and habitat loss in general are also a major concern. The beekeepers job is to understand and protect their colony from all of these different dangers and take care of their bees to put them under the least stress possible. Every beekeeper should know the life cycle of their honey bees. This helps to assess the problems their bees may face, and helps the beekeeper understand what happens when a colony swarms. Swarming is a natural process of every colony and you must know the life cycle of the queen bee in order to understand the various swarm control techniques that are available. This topic looks at the way bees are kept and how they are cared for and protected by the beekeeper. We will learn how the beekeeper is able to work safely. Video Clips 21 first days of a honey bees life – Anand Varma - https://vimeo.com/167347073 Close up of bee eating honey – Steve Fearn - https://youtu.be/N_MJcWd0MRE Introduction to UKs most popular hive and all its parts - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPh3ArZhOg0 Introduction to popular “WBC”hive and all its parts - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u43U0y1nD74 Learning Topics Collecting honey and beeswax The Honey Judge The story of honey Beekeepers at workIn the hive In the hive continued Hives How bees make honeyThe world of bees Arable beginners bugology Friends in the fields Mosey in the Margins Useful Resources Ants nest Apiary Bumblebee in flight Butterfly – Peacock Bees collecting water Cricket Dragonfly Drone Fly Frame Moth Queen cells Swarm White tailed bumblebee Links The Waggle Dance – Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waggle_dance The Waggle Dance 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA1OTMCJrT8 The Waggle Dance Game A huge thank you to our generous Bees in the Curriculum Sponsor, National Bee Supplies Manage Cookie Preferences