beekeepers

Beekeepers are people who manage colonies of bees, primarily the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), for honey production, pollination services, and sometimes education or research. They may keep a few hives in a backyard or operate large, commercial apiaries that supply crops with pollination services across wide areas.

Beekeeping involves installing and maintaining hives, conducting regular inspections, and monitoring for health and well-being of the colony. Key tasks include ensuring a viable queen, checking brood patterns, preventing swarming, providing nutrition when nectar is scarce, and harvesting honey. Beekeepers also manage pests and diseases, with varroa mites being a major concern in many regions; they typically use an integrated pest management approach, clean equipment, and sometimes chemical or cultural controls as appropriate. They may also use nucleus colonies to expand or replace colonies.

Common equipment includes protective clothing such as a bee suit with a veil and gloves, a smoker, a hive tool, and hive components like frames, foundation, and supers for honey storage. Hives can be stationary or moved to follow bloom periods in migratory beekeeping, particularly for large pollination contracts.

Beekeeping encompasses diverse roles, from hobbyist and backyard keepers to commercial operators who rent or manage hundreds or thousands of hives. In addition to honey production, beekeepers contribute to agricultural ecosystems by aiding crop pollination, supporting biodiversity, and sometimes engaging in queen rearing or breeding programs. The practice faces ongoing challenges from pests, diseases, pesticides, and environmental changes.