Beekeeping Facts and Information For West Virginia
Honey bees have excellent resistance to tracheal mites. Honey bees in West Virginia exhibit several superior traits. Honey bees can pollinate a variety of crops and alfalfa. In addition, these insects produce propolis and honey. You can learn more about beekeeping in West Virginia by reading the information below. You can start your beekeeping hobby in your backyard today!
Honey Bees Pollinate a Wide Variety of Crops
Insects like bees and butterflies pollinate many types of crops in West Virginia. They are an essential part of the food chain, but they face many challenges in our modern world. Some of the most significant threats to pollinators include habitat loss, pesticides, environmental contaminants, and disease. Native and honey bees contribute to up to $18 billion in crop yields in the U.S. each year. Because two-thirds of our land is privately owned, our land management decisions will affect the health of our pollinators.
The benefits of honey bees go well beyond the honey. Bees pollinate one out of every three types of crops in the United States. Beekeepers who want to protect this vital resource can also reap the rewards of pollinating more crops, which will increase the value of their products. Throughout the last century, beekeeping interest has declined dramatically. Today, there are 2.5 million colonies of honeybees in West Virginia.
They Produce Honey by Collecting Nectar
Honey bees make 12 to 15 trips daily to thousands of flowers to collect nectar and pollen. They travel two to five miles from their hive. Bees collect only one species of plant per trip, so the more diverse the forage area, the better. Since bees are vegetarians, they use nectar as a primary source of carbohydrates. Bees use honey for daily activities, flight, and colony maintenance.
Honey bees in West Virginia collect nectar from a wide variety of flowers. There are traditional varieties like black locust honey, but you can also find more unconventional varieties like goldenrod honey and lavender. These varieties of honey are named after the region where they are found. Beekeeping in West Virginia is a great hobby, and you can even purchase beeswax products made from honey beeswax.
They Produce Propolis
While the propolis produced by beekeeping is a valuable byproduct, the process is not without danger. Bees are naturally antimicrobial and propolis production is a complex process. However, beekeeping in West Virginia does not present these risks. The bees may produce propolis in abundance and this can mean an increased honey yield. This product also helps maintain the health of the bees and their honey.
Bees use propolis as a natural pesticide, as it has a microbial effect on mites and can help them survive the adult stage of their life. It may even prime detoxification pathways. In addition, it is thought to be an important component of honeybee social medication. Beekeepers in West Virginia should take note of this fact! The propolis collected from their beehives is essential for the honeybee’s health.
They Pollinate Alfalfa
One of the most important aspects of beekeeping is pollination. Alfalfa is a flower that must be tripped by bees to produce pollen and seed in commercial quantities. Bees split the petals, which contain the pistil and stamens. Pollen from other plants is deposited on the bees’ head. In turn, the bees harvest the nectar.
Alfalfa nectar is produced by the bees from a variety of flowers, including clover, blueberry, and cranberry. About 80% of this nectar is produced in North America and Europe, while the remaining 8% comes from Africa and Oceania. Bees collect the nectar and then pass it around in their mouths, where they mix it with an enzyme known as invertase.
They Pollinate a Wide Variety of Crops in Florida
Pollinators are crucial for the production of many plant-based products, including Florida’s specialty crops. They contribute to the productivity of a variety of crops, ranging from avocados to peaches and peanuts to soybeans. Approximately 30 percent of Florida’s plant-based production is dependent on pollinators. Nevertheless, the contribution of these pollinators varies depending on the crop. In some areas, their presence increases crop yields by up to 74%.
In Florida, there are about three hundred species of bees, including about 30 endemic bees. Of these, 30 are endemic to Florida, meaning they cannot be found anywhere else in the world. They do incredible work for Florida’s ecosystem and native plant species. In addition to pollinating crops, they also help maintain the health of the state’s ecosystem. Listed below are some of the benefits of Florida’s bees.
They Pollinate Many Crops in Florida
Beekeeping is a lucrative business in Florida, where honeybees pollinate nearly all the state’s four major agricultural crops. It is also the nation’s third-largest producer of honey. Besides pollinating crops, beekeeping also provides valuable services to other U.S. states, such as Illinois. In 2006, Florida was home to less than a thousand registered beekeepers, but now there are over 5,000.
There are three main areas in which beekeeping in Florida is important: crop protection, bee health, and bee nutrition. The UF lab will focus on three areas. The first is the varroa mite, a tiny ectoparasite that transmits disease to bees and spreads greening of citrus trees. Beekeeping also has the potential to reduce the number of pesticides used on Florida crops.
They Are a Good Source of Food
While beekeeping may not provide the richest of fare, it can be a profitable source of food for West Virginians. Beekeeping is a way to supplement the income of families that live below the poverty line and to help the state’s declining honeybee population. Beekeepers leave their boxes during the day to pollinate wildflowers and return at night to tell the other bees where they can find fresh nectar. Beekeepers receive free equipment to help them with their hobby. Beekeepers often hire staff to clean up the honey and harvest the frames.
While bees are not actively trying to pollinate plants, they do provide valuable pollination services. Bees eat pollen and nectar as a source of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Bees stuff pollen into baskets on their legs and suck up nectar with their tongues. In the end, these foods are processed to produce honey and bee bread. Mary Hufford has interviewed beekeepers in Ameagle and elsewhere in the state.
They Are a Good Source of Mites
Beware of mites. Bees, like humans, are prey for mites, and mites can kill them. This is particularly true during the spring pollination season, when bees are exhausted and crowded together in colonies. While the mite population can be depleted in the spring, bee numbers may rebound in the summer when a queen bee lays up to 1,500 eggs a day. Regardless of how severe a mite infestation may be, you can still enjoy a plentiful supply of honey.
Mites are a common pest of bees, and they can make your life difficult for you. Mites are microscopic parasites that live inside of a bee’s trachea, the tube in the body that distributes oxygen throughout the body. Tracheal mites can be very dangerous, and can lead to colony death. Mites are especially harmful in cold climates, and they can have an especially adverse effect on colonies.
They Are Healthy
Last year, 35 apprentice beekeepers from West Virginia joined the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective, a nonprofit group dedicated to restoring hardwood forests and streams in former mining areas. There are now another 55 wannabes training in a new round of classes. With so many benefits, beekeeping is a win-win for both farmers and the environment. It also supports economic growth and environmental health. But what makes beekeeping in West Virginia so special?
First, beekeepers are trained and educated about their industry. Beekeeping clubs and beekeeping schools host guest speakers to share knowledge and encourage networking. Beekeeping associations alert the beekeeping community to alternate nutrition sources. Moreover, the state’s beekeeping association also conducts regular researches and surveys to monitor the bees’ health. Beekeepers also have to be vigilant in communicating their needs with regulators to prevent a spike in disease outbreaks.
They Are Expensive
As with any small business, you should have the proper insurance coverage to protect yourself and your bees. Most homeowners’ insurance policies will not cover the cost of beekeeping equipment. It is wise to speak with a commercial insurance broker for specific recommendations. Also, remember that bees are dangerous and you need to have emergency medication available for allergic reactions. In addition, you will want to protect yourself with life insurance and disability insurance.
In West Virginia, beekeeping is a viable rural income source. The region suffers from high unemployment and poverty levels. Jobs in the coal industry were once plentiful, but employment fell by about 27 percent between 2005 and 2015. Consequently, states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky are struggling to find new industries to replace the lost jobs. Beekeeping is a viable rural income source for many in the area. Besides being a viable alternative source of income, it can also help revitalize the local community.