To be noted that’s just a thing that is done commercialy, most beekeepers will not do it and instead will try to have a symbiotic relationship, some (not many ofc) beekeepers will even go as far as letting the bees leave if they want (though, i don’t agree to do leave them go because it will disturb the local fauna as they are not native most of the time)
Edit: IIRC they are native to europe and asia so it isn’t a big problem in those zones ig
And every harvest comes at the cost of many workers’ lives (they defend their reserves and their stinger ripping out kills them). Also they’re given sugar in winter to compensate for the honey taken from them.
That’s shitty. I wonder how common this is for non-factory beekeeping, I can think of several ways this could cause significant problems for the bees above and beyond the obvious one.
As someone who has worked with bees, not common. Most beekeepers should be keeping the queen there by maintaining the correct amount of honey store for hive size. There are queen excluder boxes you can use to protect/encourage new queens to storm, etc etc etc
I’d never heard of wing clipping. That would be terrible. I’m frankly against using smoke with bees and have worked with a few people who also feel the same way. Buy local
I’m frankly against using smoke with bees and have worked with a few people who also feel the same way. Buy local
I feel like buying local is good for various other reasons, but that it doesn’t necessarily guarantee better beekeeping practices. Maybe there ought to be some kind of “humane beekeeping” certification program.
Yes, it is shitty. So are most things we do to other creatures on earth to prioritize our own survival and well being.
It was only somewhat recently in human history that we’ve moved past the point of needing these systems to survive. Now things like veganism have few to little downsides, except that we’re entrenched in the way we used to do things.
Honey bees are rarely native to where they are kept. They are livestock. Clipping the queen both improves honey production and prevents the swarm from resettling elsewhere and displacing local pollinators.
And replace the honey with sugar water and they become deficient. And also they outcompete native bee populations, causing naturally occuring pollinators to decline
They just clip the wings of the queen so it’s functionally impossible for the bees to leave.
To be noted that’s just a thing that is done commercialy, most beekeepers will not do it and instead will try to have a symbiotic relationship, some (not many ofc) beekeepers will even go as far as letting the bees leave if they want (though, i don’t agree to do leave them go because it will disturb the local fauna as they are not native most of the time)
Edit: IIRC they are native to europe and asia so it isn’t a big problem in those zones ig
Sounds like an American thing to do.
And every harvest comes at the cost of many workers’ lives (they defend their reserves and their stinger ripping out kills them). Also they’re given sugar in winter to compensate for the honey taken from them.
That’s shitty. I wonder how common this is for non-factory beekeeping, I can think of several ways this could cause significant problems for the bees above and beyond the obvious one.
As someone who has worked with bees, not common. Most beekeepers should be keeping the queen there by maintaining the correct amount of honey store for hive size. There are queen excluder boxes you can use to protect/encourage new queens to storm, etc etc etc
I’d never heard of wing clipping. That would be terrible. I’m frankly against using smoke with bees and have worked with a few people who also feel the same way. Buy local
I feel like buying local is good for various other reasons, but that it doesn’t necessarily guarantee better beekeeping practices. Maybe there ought to be some kind of “humane beekeeping” certification program.
I agree there should be, but I more was thinking farmers market where you can just ask
Yes, it is shitty. So are most things we do to other creatures on earth to prioritize our own survival and well being.
It was only somewhat recently in human history that we’ve moved past the point of needing these systems to survive. Now things like veganism have few to little downsides, except that we’re entrenched in the way we used to do things.
Honey bees are rarely native to where they are kept. They are livestock. Clipping the queen both improves honey production and prevents the swarm from resettling elsewhere and displacing local pollinators.
deleted by creator
we can’t even be not-shitty to each other
veganism have dew
moist
And replace the honey with sugar water and they become deficient. And also they outcompete native bee populations, causing naturally occuring pollinators to decline
i think the amount and the size of lawns without any flowers affects the natural pollinator population at much greater capacity.