Page 18 - APR2026

Page 18 NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM April 2026
Community
By Jeff Beach
We need Bees! Honey bees, Apis millifera. Honey bees have a long legacy as an important pollinator of our agricultural food sources. Plants and flowers we consume or propagate de- pend on honey bees and other pollinators. And as a species, they have been under attack for centuries. Let’s dig a little deeper into this important lit- tle bee. Honey bees have been domesticated and managed in hives by us for millennia. Many ancient cultures discovered wild bee hives that yielded the sweet taste of golden honey. Ever since then, we have been prop- agating and managing bee hives for commercial production or backyard fun and intriguing ed- ucation. Honey bees are a social insect and come in many breeds, having differing characteristics for the honey bee farmer. They are not aggressive in most cases, but are docile creatures if not in- terfered with.
Bees have a fascinating way of developing a colony for sur- vival. They are highly evolved insects that engage in a number of complex tasks. The reproduc- tion and social structure of the hive require a fertile queen bee.
The queen and her drones will set up the hive's social structure based on the bee traits required at the time. Namely, adult worker bees, drones, or a new queen. The drones only mate with the queen. The communi- cation factors of pheromones, squiggly dances, and food types will set the eggs deposited in the comb structure to match a cer- tain population demand. The adult worker bees assume the intricate tasks of hive construc- tion, security, cleaning, culturing new bees, food storage, and for- aging. These and many other communication and worker-bee traits make them among the smartest and most fascinating of God’s creatures. Watching thou- sands of bees working in harmo- nious coordination to construct their intricate home and deter- mine a new generation of bees is truly a testament to the wonders of nature.
Our interest in bees is two- fold. One is the pollination re- quirements of our agricultural resources, and two is the honey that the bees provide. They, along with other pollinators, are responsible for pollination of 80% of the world's flowering plants and food crops. They are
very efficient in their labors; gen- erating a squiggly wiggly dance to tell others where food sources are, carrying pollen between plants for fertilization needs, and carrying the pollen and nectar back to the hive for comb building and survival resources. We are able to glean some very important resources from the beehive. Folks have found many uses for the centrifuged honey from the honeycombs. The combs themselves are comprised of a waxy substance digested and secreted from the bees as a byproduct of the honey and formed with architectural skill into the hexagonal cells that pro- vide maximum storage volume for the honey, pollen, and the brood cells. Some candle com- panies use beeswax, it is used as an ingredient in cosmetics, and cheese production may use bees- wax to coat blocks of cheese for long-term aging and storage.
We are not alone in our love for honey bees and honey. The beehive is under constant preda- tory attacks. Some for the honey, some for the bees themselves. Of course, bears are a constant threat to the entire hive. Skunks, raccoons, and mice will also attempt attacks day and night.
And the destructive varroa mite is the most serious para- sitic threat to the colony. It will spread through the colony fast and can decimate a bee colony if not identified early enough. As we go about our daily lives, we occasionally face challenges and difficulties. We get mired in health issues, family dynamics, and financial challenges. God has made himself available to walk through these times with us. His Son Jesus states in the book of Matthew 11:29, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gen- tle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” He doesn’t take away the burden immediately but as we bring him alongside, we get a sense of peace and confidence that, as we move forward, he di- rects us on our best path to over-
come these challenges.
Honey bees are fascinating
creatures to watch and to raise if you have the time and resources. They don’t take up much space and will provide years of cre- ative education and fun for a family or individuals venturing into working with one of na- ture’s most fascinating insects. They need monitoring, protec- tion, and vigilance against the prevailing dangers. Other folks can help our bee populations by planting flower and vegeta- ble gardens and enhancing the natural landscapes with flower- ing trees and shrubs to support wild colonies and neighborhood hives of the honey bee. And as you taste that spoonful of honey or light that beeswax candle, re- member that you’re partaking in a journey with a fascinating insect that has been supporting us for centuries. A spoonful of honey in my tea will be just fine.
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