Beautiful Bees!

There are probably many people who think of bees only enough to avoid getting stung. As we realize that bees are declining in number, however, many of us are beginning to appreciate all that they do. Recently, a representative from the Central Jersey Beekeepers Association visited the Hollowbrook Branch and taught our patrons all about bees. She even brought a live observation hive and honey! Here are a few fun facts we learned about bees….

Bees do so much for us! Bees are great pollinators. Without bees we wouldn’t have many flowers, fruits and vegetables, including apples, almonds, vanilla and more. Losing these plants would also mean losing the animals that eat their produce, so it would be harder to raise cows, rabbits and chickens as well. We’d also be without items made from plants, such a cotton clothing. Losing crops and livestock would, in turn, have a huge impact on the world economy.
Bees do not hibernate during the winter. We just don’t see them. They cluster close together in their hive and eat honey they’ve stored during spring and summer. Once the weather gets warm, one of the first things they’ll do is leave the hive to go to the bathroom. They’ve been holding it in for a long time to keep their hive clean!
Drones, or male bees, are not allowed in the hive during the winter months because there are not enough resources to support them. They are expelled from the hive in the autumn.
Honey made by bees will have slightly different colors and textures based on from which plants bees are collecting pollen.
Female bees are called “worker” bees for a reason - they have many jobs to do! They protect the hive, help take care of the babies, forage for pollen and nectar and keep the hive clean.
Honeybees are not native to the United States. They were brought over from Europe with the colonists. Their larger, fuzzier relative, the bumblebee, is a native bee. They are also social bees, but have much smaller colonies. Mason bees are also found locally. These are solitary bees and don’t live in colonies. All types of bees are good pollinators!
You don’t have to be a beekeeper to help bees. You can help by not using pesticides (leave those dandelions where they are – bees love them!), planting flowers, providing water sources (such as a birdbath) and by supporting local beekeepers by buying locally sourced honey.