Bee School

Illiana Beekeepers Alliance Introduction to Beekeeping Class 

There are 2 parts to this course- Spring & Fall

Spring class Date: March 19th, 2022 8am-1pm

Cost $35. for non-members and $10 for current members

Fall (June) Class Date TBA

Cost $35. for non-members and $10 for current members

Spring covers time relevant topics described below and Fall covers the remaining topic relevant to fall preparations.

1. The History of Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera) The Western Honey Bee

a. Every creature has its purpose

b. Feral bees and their origins-map

c. Enjoy the many species of honey bees

d. Ancient history of Beekeeping

e. Bees working for humans- how we try to utilize them in our lives

f. How we have adapted to the benefits of commercial beekeeping

a. Diet- abundance of honey & pollen

b. Medicine- medicinal properties, apitherapy, & propolis

c. Crop pollination 

d. Wax

2. Bee Anatomy & interesting facts

a. Eyes & vision

b. Nectar gathering tongue (proboscis) & different lengths

c. Honey stomach

d. Pollen sacs

e. Stinger- venom & reactions

f. The Cast system & Identification

1.  Queen

2.  Worker

3.  Drone

3. Modern methods of beekeeping an introduction to the Langstroth Hive

a. Bee Space- How bees perceive and respond to their surroundings.

b. Hive Body, Supers, Inner Cover, Top Cover, Entrance reducer, Bottom boards, Shims

c. Hive Stands-getting your bees off the ground

d. Feeders & when to use them- Frame feeders, multiple variations of top feeders, Boardman, bucket, patties, pollen

e. Frame types & Wax/plastic foundations

f. Queen excluders, propolis traps, pollen traps

4 Protective Clothing & tools

A. Veil & Suit

B. Gloves

C. Smokers

D. Hive tools, grippers, hammer, & other hand tools

5. Where to put your hive & thrive

 a. Breed preference

 b. Natural surroundings- 

c.   Food sources

d. Sun, shade, water, & wind

e. Irritants- vibration, other wildlife,  & the unknown

6. Introducing Nucleus colonies (Nuc’s) & package bees

A. Nucleus Colonies vs Package Bees

 B. Hive configuration & Queen Excluder

1. Only as big as they need

2. Only what they can defend

C. Installing a Nuc: Demonstration

D. Installing a Package of Bees: Demonstration

7. Feeding you bees & identifying nectar flow

A.  Feed mixtures & supplements.

B.  Lemongrass oil effects in supplements.

C. Identifying dearth periods.

D. Identify Robbing & how to stop it

8. Honey Bee Social structure and habits

 A. Identify Queen, Drone, Worker, Capped Brood, Capped Honey, Pollen. 

 B. An introduction to bee bee-havior and interpreting your observations.

9. Extracting & packaging Honey

 A. Identify Honey Bound

 B. How much honey will I get?

C. How to get bees out of the supers

 D. Methods of extraction & bottling

10. Overview of Pest Management

 A. Varroa mite counts & control

 B. SHB Small Hive Beetle Damage & Control

C.  Bee virus & disease  identification

11. Preparing your bees for winter

A. Emergency Food

B. Quilt box(hot box)

12. Open Session of Question & Answers