A Master Class in Beekeeping - Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper - page 78

That morning, I learned that a large part of keeping honeybees was preventing and
diagnosing diseases. If hives are left unchecked, their honeybees can spread diseases
and pests to other hives in the vicinity.
By the time William announced that it was time to break for lunch, the sun was dir-
ectly above our heads, and the humidity had become unbearable. It had to be close to
noon,andIwasrelievedtotakeabreak.Workingourwaythroughsomanyhivesinthe
middle of August was brutal. I began to appreciate the hard work and long days put in
by the migratory beekeepers who work thousands of hives for pollination services. As
we walked back to the house, we removed our veils, and I could see the sweat beading
on William's forehead. I admired his dedication to his honeybees. This was a full-time
hobby for William, and he was a devoted beekeeper.
Margiehadpreparedusaperfectfeast,andweallsatdownanddugin.Iwasparched
and starving. For dessert, we dined on homemade yogurt mixed with fresh honey from
theirhives.Elegant andsimple, honeymakeseverything special. Icouldseehowproud
they were serving this traditional combination, and I indulged them by asking for an-
other helping.
WediscussedtheeventsofthemorningwithMargie,who,surprisingly,wasfamiliar
with every single one of their hives, although she did not tend to the honeybees herself.
After lunch, she invited me into her workroom to show me her handiwork. Fantastic
beeswax candles shaped into honey bears and bee skeps lined the shelves. Along with
candles, she mixed up luscious lip balms and hand salves using pure beeswax. I was
treated to a sampling. The salves and balms were creamy and smooth, and I had never
experienced a purer, more emollient moisturizer. After applying them, my skin felt like
silk. The bouquet of beeswax and honey permeated the room. The idea of making hon-
eybee products was right up my alley, and thoughts of making pure beeswax skin-care
items appealed to my love of natural products. I was so delighted that I knew I would
have to try making my own beeswax products at home. Once again I was inspired by
the honeybee.
Now refreshed, I was ready for more work with the bees and headed back out to
the yard, where William and I continued visiting the rest of the thirty hives. Most were
healthy, and we removed the last of his honey shallows and prepared the hives for
winter. I would learn much more during the day's hive visits besides how to identify
Varroa mites.
B EE P ESTS AND D ISEASES
There are several pests that can ravage your honeybees and even destroy your equip-
ment.Mice,skunk,opossums,andbearsarefoundinbackyardsandinmostruralneigh-