What Is Bee Keeping?History, Modern Era of beekeeping.

 Apiculture/Beekeeping ➢ The cultivation of bees on a commercial scale for the production of honey and other products 
 The “management” of honey bees Apiculture and beekeeping are just one aspect of the broader subject of “Apiculture/Beekeeping”, which encompasses many types of bees, their complex behaviors, and their “relationship” with our other pollinators such as birds, bats and other mammals. But that is not to say beekeeping is all about bees! It is much more than that. Beekeepers have been described as being on the front lines of nature's defense force against insect pests.

 

History of Beekeeping 

Romans: Pliny wrote about beekeeping in about 50AD Wrote about wax, and propolis Virgil wrote about beekeeping in about 40BC Keep hives:  Near water.  Out of the wind . Away from lizards, moths, and birds Greeks: 384 BC, Aristotle wrote much about beekeeping 

➢ In 1586, Luis Mendez de Torres first described the queen bee as a female that laid eggs 

➢ In 1609 Charles Butler identified the female queen and the drone as a male bee

 ➢ In 1637 Richard Remnant recognized that the worker bees were females 

  The honey bee, Apis Mellifera is the most productive of all insects when it comes to gathering pollen and nectar. This rich source of pollen and nectar provides food for its offspring which in turn helps support their populations. The honey bee is also a symbol of protection, representing strength and perseveration. In fact, Roman's used this bee as an emblem during their resistance against Julius Caesar because they believed that if they could defeat the Romans in battle then they would win their freedom. Likewise, they believed that if they could destroy the Spanish Armada by halting it from reaching England or by sinking the ships then the English would be on their own without support from Europe.

The “Modern” Era of Beekeeping 

➢ Started in 1853 with the publication of the book “The Hive and the Honeybee”

 ➢ Written by L.L. Langstroth The “Father” of modern beekeeping

 ➢ Introduced the concept of “bee space” 

➢ From which the Top opening, movable frame hive evolved  The year 1853 saw a very important publication: that of “L.L. Langstroth's The Hive and the Honey Bee”. This was an early attempt at managing bees in order to improve efficiency and production rates, and make beekeeping a more sustainable practice.

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