A beekeeper is a person who keeps bees for commercial and agricultural purposes. Apiarists build and clean hives, induct wild swarms, split colonies, collect honey and manage their overall health.
Bees are social insects with two castes, workers and queens. In addition to the queen, drones are also included in this sex group.
Meaning
A beekeeper is a person who keeps honey bees. Beekeepers raise these honey bees in man made hives for pollination services and commercial purposes.
The word beekeeper is derived from the Latin word apis. Unlike a commercial beekeeper, who may own hundreds or thousands of hives, hobby beekeepers keep a few hives in their backyard.
Some beekeepers are also agronomists who study bee biology and develop new ways to help the bees survive.
When a group of bees leaves their hive, they are called a swarm. A swarm is often caused by disease, wax moths, lack of water or food, or other issues.
Beekeepers need to be prepared for any emergency that may arise in their hives. They need to respond quickly, resolve the problem, and make sure the bees are safe before they re-enter the hive.
Origin
Beekeeping is the process of raising honey bees for agricultural or commercial purposes. It is a job that requires a lot of knowledge and expertise.
The origin of beekeeping is based on humans’ obsession with honey since the early millennia. There are paintings that date back 15,000 years and depict people collecting honey from wild hives.
Eventually, these honey collectors began attempting to maintain colonies of wild bees in artificial hives made from hollow logs, wooden boxes, pottery vessels, and woven straw baskets known as skeps.
The first recorded attempts at organized beekeeping began in Egypt. In the Nile region, it is believed that beekeepers moved their hives up and down the river as flowers bloomed, allowing them to collect honey from various locations along the way.
Synonyms
The word beekeeper is derived from the Latin word apis, which means “bee.” Beekeeping is the process of keeping bees and harvesting honey. Commercial beekeepers are responsible for hundreds, or even thousands of hives that produce a large amount of honey.
Generally, bees are kept in a hive that has a bottom board and frames. A beekeeper will also need to install a feeder and cover for the hive.
Beekeepers use different tools to set up the hive. They may use a smoker to subdue bees or a solar wax melter to melt wax from combs and cappings by the heat of the sun.
Beekeepers also help to educate their clients about bees and hives. They are also responsible for the safety of their bees by using bee veil and wire netting to protect them from stings.
Is it a job?
Beekeeping is an exciting hobby and a growing business. Some are hobbyists that keep a few hives in the backyard, while others run large commercial farms with tens of thousands of hives and make a living off of honey.
Most beekeepers have an undergraduate degree in animal science or a biological field to ensure they have the necessary skills to raise bees and other livestock for their own benefit or that of the public. Many beekeepers also pursue graduate-level degrees in areas such as entomology, conservation, ecology and research.
A beekeeper is responsible for all aspects of raising and propagating bees, including keeping records and monitoring the welfare and numbers of their bees, ensuring their hives are healthy and productive, harvesting honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and beeswax and other products. Whether they are producing a small amount of honey for their own use or working to supply the local market, beekeepers must show commitment to biodiversity, ecological conservation and bee welfare and numbers.
