Best Bees to Keep

If you are unfamiliar with beekeeping, not just any bee can be kept. A factor in a beekeeper’s success is choosing the right bee breed. There are a few bee breeds that are ideal for beekeeping, and some better starter bees for beginners. Beginning beekeepers should consider bees with mild temperaments. Of course, they are all honeybees because one of the best parts of being a beekeeper is being able to harvest honey from these incredible pollinators! It is like the fruits of their labor, and yours!

Mild-Tempered Bees

One of the most well-known honeybee breeds is the Carniolan honeybee. The gentleness of the bees makes it easy for new beekeepers to work with the hives. This breed is also known to swarm due to large populations early in the summer, so have that extra space available for them to grow and expand. Bees will often swarm when they run out of space and it gets too crowded, or if their queen isn’t in prime health any longer. Although this species is gentle with beekeepers, it is diligent about protecting its hives from intruders.

Best Western Beginner Bees

The Western honeybee is often recommended for first-time beekeepers. They create large colonies, are less aggressive, and create a healthy amount of honey from which a new beekeeper will have an opportunity to harvest soon into their beekeeping journey. The Western honeybee is accustomed to being kept by beekeepers and bee farms, so it is resilient to human interaction and to more urban environments.

The Robber Bees

The Italian honeybee is a favorite among beekeepers, even though they come with risks. Their honey production rate is high, and they are less prone to swarming. Italian honeybees have long brood cycles, which means they can burn through their resources faster than other breeds. Italina bees may steal honey from different hives, increasing the risk of spreading disease and mites if they are in the hive they raid.

Robber bees scout out weaker hives, communicate with other bees in their hive, and then invade honey and pollen resources. As the resources are taken from one hive to another, this is an unregulated process that can expose hives to disease. The robberies can be violent and leave one hive struggling to survive. Italian bees are not recommended as the first bee breed for a brand-new beekeeper.

Starting Your Beekeeping Journey

New beekeepers must put some thought into where hives will be kept, what breed of bees they want, and other factors. The simple approach is to choose a spot for the hives that gets morning sun and some afternoon shade. When it is very hot, the shade is better. Bees are incredible adaptable and will find places to forage nearby. Ordering bees from a bee supply is a good way to start your hive with the bee breed you want. Local beekeepers are more than willing to share their experience and may be able to help new beekeepers find the ideal spot to place the hives.

Purchasing Bees

Buying bees often comes in packages of approximately 10,000 bees. Bees are shipped by mail and include a queen kept separate for shipping. Once the bees arrive, the package can be placed in the hive with the queen. The cage the queen comes in usually has a sugary substance that serves as a door, allowing other bees to eat it and release her naturally without human intervention.

Swarm Bees

Another way to come by bees for your hives is by capturing a swarm. Swarming is entirely natural, and sometimes, swarms make the news! Trucks crashing during delivery, airlines grounded, and baseball games paused are only a few examples, and when beekeepers can rescue and rehome these bees, it is story-worthy! Swarms, although they move on their own, can be ushered into a box and then taken home to their hives. Bees in a swarm are docile because they aren't defending anything, so this is a time when beekeepers can move them without significant risk, though protective gear should always be worn when working with large numbers of bees. Taking bees during a swarm is not recommended for a new beekeeper. At the start, it is best to have some bees sent directly to you, and by using the skills of more seasoned beekeepers, the transition will be smoother.