Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
a colony through communal spaces may pose problems such as errant bees, dripping
honey, and cart maneuverability.
An automatic watering device is an ideal way to provide water and not have to worry
about the effects of a drought. (In winter, watering devices need to be unhooked and
drained.)
Bees on the roof need the same things as bees anywhere: continous water. Bees on a
hot roof need a quart (liter) or more a day in the summer.
Colony Growth
Beekeepers in densely populated urban settings routinely have fewer problems with
pests and diseases, ironically, because of isolation from other beekeepers. Though with
the increase of numbers of urban beekeepers this may be changing. Moreover, losses
from agricultural or homeowner pesticides are nearly zero. They lose fewer colonies to
varroa, nosema, and any of the common maladies that beset colonies in more tradition-
al locations. Further, colonies become large enough to swarm and divide more often.
There is a practical limit to the number of colonies you can have on one roof. Consider
the logistics needed to handle the effects of colony growth (including all the honey you
will harvest).
Swarms in the City
Swarm prevention becomes an even more important management tool in the city, for
reasons other than having productive colonies.
When a colony swarms in an urban area, they may land on the door of a business, a
mailbox on a corner, even the side of a parked car, and the entire street may be closed
to traffic and pedestrians. Most swarms will not garner much media attention but may
attract unwanted attention from local authorities. Consider keeping your bees “out of
sight, out of mind” in order to mitigate the potential negative attention. Remember, the
fewer people that have access to your bees, the less likely they are to be vandalized or
otherwise violated, too.
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