Town of Wytheville-Department of Museums
Beekeeping: History, Information, Uses and Importance: HS:8th-12th
History
- In 2009 a fossilized female worker bee was discovered in Nevada and found to be 14my old.
-Before this bee was found the consensus was bees likely arrived on this continent as early as the 1600s.
Native Americans referred to them as the “white man’s fly”.
-In Appalachian culture, honey was used primarily as a sweetening agent as sugar was not plentiful or
easy to come by.
-If honey was not available a maple tree could be tapped for its sap.
Science of Bees
-There are approximately 20,000 species of bees. A few you may have heard of: Bumblebees, carpenter
bees, honey bees, and “Killer” bees.
-honeybees have a complex society within each hive. Some hives can contain as many as 100,000 bees.
Worker bees-all female each have a certain job: queens court, nectar collectors, pollen
collectors, guard, clean house, feed the brood (unborn bees), chewing nectar and turning into honey
with enzymes
Drones-male, only to mate with the queen, make up about 10% of the hive, in the fall, worker
bees push drones out and guard bees will not allow them to return, drones are fat and lazy and cannot
sting (Picture)
Queen- only lays eggs, can lay as many as 1000 in one day, does nothing for herself, extended lifespan of
2-5 years, the queen directs the other female, worker bees to do their tasks with pheromones (chemical
signals) (Picture)
Beekeeping in American history
- Bees have been kept for nearly 400 years in the United States. It is thought bees came here in 1622.
-Skeps were used in England and of course passed along to the colonists. However, gums were added to
the list of bee homes as the American colonies were settled. Gums were termed after the type of tree
they were made from, the Black Gum tree. The Black Gum tree hollows as it dries leaving space in the
middle for the bees to make their homes and honeycomb.
-Beekeeping and beehives has not changed much in the last 100-150 years.
Importance
-Pollinators-Bees are a special group of organisms called pollinators. They help to cross pollinate 30% of
our world’s crops and 90% of wild plant life. So, every 3rd bite of food should be credited to a bee. One
crop, almonds, depends entirely on the honey bee for pollination at bloom time. The California almond
industry requires approximately 1.8 million colonies of honey bees in order to adequately pollinate
nearly one million acres of bearing almond orchards.
-Other pollinators include: birds, bats and butterflies.
Resources-Honey: There is some scientific evidence supporting if local honey is taken regularly (a
teaspoonful or so) it can decrease seasonal allergies. In addition, honey can be used as a digestive agent,
cough suppressant, or topical salve.
-Honey types: The type of honey depends on the type of blooming plant closest to the hive and
most likely is the highest concentration of that plant. Around our area it is sourwood. It also seems
sourwood honey is the most sought after honey.
Pollen-contains essential amino acids, various fatty acids, vitamins B, C, D, E and K, and
provitamin A. Some individuals are highly allergic to pollen and should only ingest a very small amount
to see if a reaction occurs.
-Wax-contains a large amount of fatty acid esters and the cosmetic industry loves it. It makes skin soft
and supple and it also contains some antibiotic properties so your skin is protected.
Challenges: Declining bee population due to:
-Varroa mites (Show frame)
-Wax worms (Show frame)
-Colony collapse disorder-en masse disappearance of nearly an entire colony. Scientists are still
researching why this is occurring. Theories are as follows: climate change, pesticides or possible virus.
Show props: Bee keepers suit: Hat, gloves, suit, veil, smoker
Frames showing diseases, mites, etc.
Ancient Egyptians are considered the first beekeepers in history.
Honey’s uses in this culture included: medicinal, ritualistic,
agricultural and nutritional. Beeswax was used in mummification
and candle making.
Early drawings and diagrams by Diderot show different
hives from 17th century Europe.
A TYPICAL BEEHIVE IN THE 17th CENTURY.
INSIDE OF SKEP (TOP IMAGE).
OUTSIDE OF SKEP (BOTTOM IMAGE).
A TYPICAL BEEHIVE IN THE 16th CENTURY.
INSIDE A LANGSTROTH, MOVABLE FRAME HIVE.
SEVERAL OF THESE BOXES MAY BE STACKED TO CREATE A LARGER HIVE.
THE FIRST OF THESE HIVES WERE CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1850.
Rev. L. Langstroth (1810-1895)- “The
Father of American Beekeeping”
Created the Langstroth, movable frame
hive, making honey extraction easier
and less disruptive to the bees.
Wrote “The hive and the honeybee”
(1853). The book provides practical
advice for the beekeeper and is still in
print today.
BUG SQUAD
Happenings in the insect world
First Native American Honey Bee

Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Published on: July 28, 2009