Beekeeping Notes

These are extension articles written by past and present members of the Apiculture Program at NCSU. They are organized in the following structure.

Honey bee biology. Honey bees are living, breathing animals. Therefore it is critical that beekeepers obtain a fundamental understanding of honey bees as a biological system. This includes understanding their nest architecture, development, anatomy, genetics, behavior, ecology, and evolution. Understanding what bees do naturally facilitates their husbandry by working with them, rather than against them. Moreover, understanding their biology develops a deeper appreciation and admiration of the bees.
Honey bee management. Based on a thorough understanding of honey bee biology, a beekeeper may then effectively manipulate honey bees in a managed setting. Subjects include how to properly keep bees and what not to do. Hive construction, beekeeping equipment, and apiary establishment are also important areas of understanding. Treatment and prevention of the many diseases that afflict honey bees is also a significant management issue.
Honey bee industry. Managed honey bees in the US account for over $14 billion each year in pollination services and increased crop yields, and thus is a vital part of the agriculture industry in the country. Knowing the history of beekeeping, what crops require bees for cross pollination and fruit set, the honey market, and the uses of other hive products are important aspects of the apiculture industry.

* Notes are in PDF format, and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. Click on any title to download.

Number	Note Title	Category	Subcategory
1.01	Africanized honey bees: where are they now, and when will they arrive in North Carolina?	Biology	Africanized honey bees
1.02	Africanized honey bees: prevention and control	Biology	Africanized honey bees
1.03	Africanized honey bees: some questions and answers	Biology	Africanized honey bees
1.04	Honey Plants of North Carolina	Biology	Bee plants, botany, and gardening
1.05	An Herb Garden for the Bees	Biology	Bee plants, botany, and gardening
1.06	Landscape Planting for Bees	Biology	Bee plants, botany, and gardening
1.07	The Golden Raintree	Biology	Bee plants, botany, and gardening
1.08	Reducing the Likelihood of Stings During Outdoor Activities	Biology	Medical and safety information
1.09	Allergy to Insect Stings	Biology	Medical and safety information
1.10	Carpenter Bees	Biology	Related insects
1.11	The Honey Bee Dance Language	Biology	Behavior, ecology, and evolution
1.12	The Different Types of Honey Bees	Biology	Behavior, ecology, and evolution
1.13	Non-honey bee stinging insects in North Carolina	Biology	Related insects
2.01	Diseases of the Honey Bee	Management	Diseases, pests, and treatments
2.02	Tracheal Mite Disease	Management	Diseases, pests, and treatments
2.03	Varroa Mites	Management	Diseases, pests, and treatments
2.04	Honey Bee Medication Fact Sheet	Management	Diseases, pests, and treatments
2.05	The Small Hive Beetle	Management	Diseases, pests, and treatments
2.06	Plans for Constructing a Beehive	Management	Equipment and woodworking
2.07	Honey Bee Vacuum	Management	Equipment and woodworking
2.08	Diagram of a Single Frame Observation Hive	Management	Equipment and woodworking
2.09	Foundation Mounting Jig	Management	Equipment and woodworking
2.10	Requeening	Management	Hive manipulation
2.11	Weed Control in the Apiary	Management	Working in the apiary
2.12	Reducing the Risk of Pesticide Poisoning to Honey Bees	Management	Working in the apiary
2.13	An Electric Bear Fence for Apiaries	Management	Working in the apiary
2.14	The history of instrumental insemination	Management	Queen rearing and bee breeding
2.15	Setting up an observation hive	Management	Hive manipulation
2.16	A Comparison of Russian and Italian Honey Bees	Management	Queen rearing and bee breeding
2.17	How to install a package of honey bees	Management	Hive manipulation
3.01	Bees and Beekeeping in North Carolina	Industry	Beekeeping facts and history
3.02	The Importance of Honey Bees in North Carolina	Industry	Beekeeping facts and history
3.03	The role of honey bees in apple pollination	Industry	Crop pollination
3.04	Cucumber Pollination	Industry	Crop pollination
3.05	Judging Liquid (Extracted) Honey	Industry	Honey
3.06	Preparing Liquid Honey for Competition and Sale	Industry	Honey
3.07	Making Mead or Honey Wine	Industry	Other hive products
308	Beeswax	Industry	Other hive products
3.09	Audio-Visual Materials on Beekeeping at NCSU	Industry	Reference
3.10	How to become a beekeeper in North Carolina	Industry	Reference
3.11	The N.C. Master Beekeeper Program	Industry	Reference
3.12	Preparing honey entries for the State Fair	Industry	Reference
3.13	MBP Study Guide: Certified Level	Industry	Reference
3.14	The Value of Honey Bees as Pollinators in N.C.	Industry	Crop pollination