Words you will learn in a backyard basic beekeeping course!
Beekeeping is a fun and rewarding hobby, but it can seem confusing and overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the terminology. There are a lot of terms used in beekeeping. This can make it difficult to understand what is being said if you’re unfamiliar with the lingo.
Definitions of Important Beekeeping Terms
Even if you don’t plan on becoming a beekeeper, it’s still interesting to know about these creatures in beekeeping training courses. So, let’s get started!
- Apiary: A location where bees are kept
- Beehive: A structure that houses a bee colony
- Brood: The young of a bee colony
- Drone: A male bee whose sole purpose is to mate with the queen
- Honey: A sweet substance produced by bees from the nectar of flowers
- Nectar: A sugary liquid secreted by flowers that attract pollinators
- Pollen: Fine powdery grains that contain the male sex cells of a plant
- Queen: The female bee responsible for reproduction in a colony
- Worker: A female bee that performs all the other functions in a colony, such as gathering food and building the hive
As you can see, there is much more to beekeeping than just keeping bees! By familiarizing yourself with beekeeping vocabulary, you will be able to communicate with other beekeepers about the ins and outs of this fascinating hobby.
Parts of the Beehive
The beehive comprises several different parts, each with its own name. Beekeepers call the main part of the hive the brood chamber, where the queen bee lays her eggs. The honeycomb is where the bees store their honey, and the pollen comb is where they keep pollen. The bees also have a special section called the queen’s chamber, where the queen bee lives. Finally, the bees have an area called the hive entrance, where they come in and out of the hive.
How to identify different types of bees
There are many different types of bees, and they can be difficult to identify. However, a few key physical characteristics from bee keeping classes can help you tell them apart.
One of the most important things to look at is the bee’s coloring. Different bee species have different patterns and colors on their bodies. For example, honey bees are usually a light golden color, while bumblebees are often black and yellow.
You can also look at the bee’s size to help identify it. Honey bees are relatively small, while bumblebees are much larger.
Finally, you can look at the bee’s habits. For example, honey bees are very active during the day, while bumblebees are more active at night.
Types of Bees that New Beekeepers Will Interact With
There are three main types of bees: worker bees, drones, and the queen. As you will learn in any beekeeping course, each type of bee has a specific role to play in the hive.
Worker bees are the busiest members of the hive. They gather nectar and pollen, build and repair the honeycomb, and care for the young bees.
Drones are the male bees. Their only job is to mate with the queen.
The queen is the only female bee in the hive. She is responsible for laying all of the eggs that will hatch into new bees.
Conclusion
By considering all of these factors, you should be able to identify most types of bees. If you’re still unsure, you can always consult beekeeping beginners kit.
