#106 How Bees Overwinter and Controlling Mosquitoes With Nectar

For episode 106, Steve talks about how bees overwinter and the roles of honey, nectar and pollen in the overwintering process. In addition, Bryan discusses a new method of mosquito control that involves a pesticide-spiked nectar.

Steve’s Notes

My son listens to a podcast called “But Why” hosted by Jane Lindholm  

They recently had an episode titled: How Do Bees Make Honey And Why Do They Sting?

Her guest was John Haden, who is an organic fruit farmer from Jeffersonville, Vermont

If you’d like to learn the basics on honey bees, I recommend this episode. I bet you’ll learn or relearn SOMETHING.

Few facts:

Honey bees are less aggressive to things that are white. It’s believed they’re keyed into color to identify their natural enemies- Skunks, bears, honey badgers, etc.

The reason beekeepers pump smoke into a hive is because it makes bees think there is a forest fire so they consume honey to prepare for a trip… if need be… and the honey makes the bees docile or unassertive.

Have you ever wondered how honey bees overwinter?  Play John Haden’s clip

In the beginning of that clip, John made reference to feeding pollen to the young bees.

You heard correctly, bees consume both pollen and nectar.

This clip explains the difference between and the roles of pollen, nectar and honey. Play second clip