Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
When a hive cover is removed, some bees will fly away. If they are unskilled flyers or
too young to have flown orientation flights, they may become lost, almost immedi-
ately, because they don't know landmarks. Skilled or experienced bees that fly off
will immediately return and begin scenting behavior by exposing their Nasonov
glands and fanning their wings to drive the pheromone away from the colony. The
inexperienced bees will pick up on the pheromone's aroma and follow it home.
This swarm has left its colony but has not yet found a new home. You can see bees
scenting with their Nasonov glands exposed. Other bees are dancing, trying to
convince the swarm that they have located a good home site.
Review and Preparation
A brief review of what has been presented would be beneficial. So I will go over getting
started, the equipment you'll need, the bees, and how to handle them throughout the
season.
Before You Begin
• First thing, find out the rules and regulations that exist about bees and beekeeping
where you live, or where you are going to keep your bees if not in your backyard.
• Check out all this with your family. Don't assume everybody is going to be as ex-
cited about bees in the backyard as you are, even if gardening and growing fruit
