Beekeeping Lies & Misconceptions

Thinking about becoming a beekeeper? That's fantastic! But before you dive headfirst into the world of honey and hives, it's important to separate fact from fiction. There are quite a few misconceptions floating around about beekeeping, and going into it with the wrong expectations can lead to disappointment and frustration. The goal of this article is to debunk some common beekeeping myths so you understand what you're really getting into.

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Myth #1: The Beekeeper Is the Boss

This is perhaps the biggest misconception. While the beekeeper does help the bees, they are, by no means, in charge. Honey bees are pretty self-sufficient – they gather their food and water, they defend the hive, they disinfect the hive, they care for their young. Many honey bees colonies survive on their own, in the wild, without the help of a beekeeper (we call these feral bees). 

What is the role of the beekeeper, then? As a hive's keeper, your role is to check in on them and see if there's anything you can do to help. 

Remember, if at any point you are saying to yourself, "how can I get my bees to...?" STOP! Instead, say, "What are my bees trying to do and how can I help them?" 

Myth #2: You'll Get Tons of Honey Right Away.

Don't expect a bumper crop of honey in your first year. Newly established colonies often need all their resources to build comb and get established. Harvesting too much honey too soon can weaken the hive. Patience is key. Your primary focus in the first year should be on the health and growth of your colony, not on maximizing honey production. Expect to harvest maybe 1-2 jars of honey per hive your first few years and if they are in a good location, approximately 20lb per hive in subsequent years. 

Myth #3: It Doesn't Hurt When You've Been Stung So Many Times

It hurts every time! A stinger is a sharp, little dagger and when a bee stings you, she is stabbing you with this pointy thing. Sometimes it hurts more than others, depending on where you've been stung (up the nose was the worst for me but my husband says the testicles is worse!). The consolation is that most beekeepers get good at getting the stinger out FAST. If you get the stinger out fast enough, you'll prevent the stinger from pumping venom into your bloodstream, which is what causes the itching and swelling for days (the worst part in my opinion). The other thing that seasoned beekeepers experience is an immunity to honey bee venom. When I first started keeping bees, I used to swell up BAD. 1-2 stings in my hand would make it swell up so bad it looked like a Mickey Mouse glove. I remember one time I couldn't even crack an egg, my hand was so swollen. After beekeeping year round, 5 days a week for a commercial apiary, I developed an immunity and no longer swelled up. As a backyard beekeeper, it'll be awhile, if at all, before you develop an immunity, but if it is something you aspire to, I recommend beekeeping without gloves on. It makes you a much better beekeeper because you are so much more aware of everything you touch and you will squish less bees which keeps the bees much calmer, but you will also get stung more often.

Myth #4: Bees are Aggressive and Will Sting You Constantly

While it's true that bees can sting, they are not inherently aggressive. They are defensive and will sting to protect their hive or themselves in extreme situations, such as when someone is stepping on them. 

Reality: With proper handling and protective gear, you can minimize the risk of stings. Most beekeepers experience very few stings, but every hive is different and some are inherently more aggressive than others. Every beekeeper will get stung at some point while caring for their hives, but there are still quite a few things the beekeeper can do to minimize the amount of times they are stung and keep the bees calm while inspecting. Read my blog post "How to Avoid Getting Stung" for lots of tips as well as what to do when you have been stung so that you can possibly avoid the itchy and swelling that occurs after.

Myth #5: It's All In The Beehive

There's quite a few different beehive styles – Langstroth, top bar, Layens, Warre, flow hive to name a few. It's common for beginner beekeepers to spend a lot of time researching different beehive styles, but I can say for a fact that there is NO beehive style that will care for the bees for you. No beehive will prevent your bees from getting sick or keep varroa mites out. 

Myth #6: Bees Do Just As Well In the City As They Do In Rural Areas

I can't speak for every city block in every city in the world, but I fell for this lie my first year as a beekeeper. I had the option to put my bees at a retreat center on a large property with lots of flowers, but I chose to put them on the roof of the parking garage next to the apartment building I lived in. Why? Because it was easier! I didn't have to drive 20 minutes to get there and lug a bunch of equipment with me. In hindsight, I should have chosen a location better for my bees' health over a spot that was more convenient for me. Although bees can survive in the city, the more food there is for the bees, the healthier they will be. Also with more food comes less robbing. Robbing can not only cause a weak hive to collapse but also leads to the transfer of varroa mites and viruses among hives. During robbing season, the beekeeper will see a spike in varroa mite levels even if you JUST treated your hives.

Lie #7: Smoke Calms the Bees

Smoke is a valuable tool for beekeepers because it helps them manage their hives safely and effectively. It doesn't harm the bees (when used properly) and allows beekeepers to inspect the hive, harvest honey, and perform other necessary tasks with minimal risk of stings. Beekeepers use smoke for several key reasons: 

• Disrupting Alarm Pheromones: Bees communicate through pheromones, chemical signals.  When a bee feels threatened, it releases an alarm pheromone to alert other bees in the hive to the danger.  This triggers a defensive response. Smoke masks or disrupts the bees' ability to detect these alarm pheromones, making them less likely to become aggressive. 

• Simulating a Forest Fire: when you heavily smoke a beehive, It's thought that this high amount of smoke mimics a forest fire. Bees, sensing the potential danger, instinctively gorge themselves on honey in preparation to abandon the hive. A full bee is less agile and less likely to sting. This "gorging" behavior also distracts them from the beekeeper's activities. This should only be done in extreme situations as it really disrupts the hive and if too much smoke is used, you can potentially cause the bees to abscond or kill the queen.

• Making Bees Less Aware of the Beekeeper: Smoke can also interfere with the bees' sense of smell, making it harder for them to detect the beekeeper's presence, reducing the likelihood of defensive stinging.

Lie #8: You're Saving the Bees or Doing Your Part By Becoming a Beekeeper

Most first and second year beekeepers lose their first few hives. Although backyard beekeepers definitely do their part to help the honey bee population, it should not be the ONLY reason you become a beekeeper mainly for this reason – if you are like the average beekeeper and your hives don't survive your first couple years, you won't want to keep trying. After all, you're not accomplishing your goal. Only get into beekeeping if you love bees and the idea of being a part of their fascinating world.

Lie #9: Beekeeping Is a Nice, Easy Hobby When You're Retired

Beekeeping is hard work! The most popular beehive in the U.S. is the Langstroth hive. This hive style is boxes stacked up on top of each other. When a honey box is full, it can weigh upwards of 35lb. You might have 1-3 boxes you have to lift up and put on the ground in order to inspect the queen and brood nest at the bottom. In addition to the weight, you'll have to inspect the hive all through the summer, even on the sunniest and hottest of days wearing your suit, gloves and veil. 

If you really want to keep bees, there are things you can do to make it easier! Check out my video with the top tips I learned from a beekeeper who had been working at a commercial apiary for over 40 years!

The Realities of Beekeeping:

Beekeeping is a rewarding hobby, but it's important to go into it with realistic expectations. It requires dedication, learning, and a genuine interest in the well-being of your bees. It's not an easy hobby that requires an hour or two commitment once a month or a guaranteed source of endless honey. However, if you're passionate about learning, enjoy working outdoors, and are fascinated by the intricate world of bees, then beekeeping might be the perfect hobby for you. Just be sure to do your research, connect with experienced beekeepers, and understand the commitment involved. The rewards are definitely worth it, but they are earned through knowledge and hard work.