What's the Buzz About Bees?   

by Sandra Bowens

Honeybees are in trouble these days.  And this could spell trouble for us as well.  Bees pollinate nearly one hundred of our food crops yet populations are in rapid decline. Wild honeybees are on the edge of extinction and domesticated bees are becoming endangered. This scene is being played out all over the world.   

The problem with bees 

Honeybees have always been vulnerable to forces of nature.  Periods of drought can limit production simply from a lack of plants to harvest. Winters may be too difficult to survive. Bears actually do find honey to be a delightful snack as do mice, birds and skunks.  

The largest threat to honeybees is varroa and tracheal mites. These blood-sucking parasites cause weakness and birth defects that can wipe out an entire colony in two years.  Since 1985 these mites have nearly eliminated wild honeybees and in 1995-96 domestic bees were reduced by 85%, in the United States. Similar situations plague Europe and Australia. Beekeepers have turned to powerful miticides but as time goes on, the mites become resistant.    

Humans contribute to the decline through urban expansion and the use of toxic chemicals as well as just plain fear.   

Killer bee concerns 

Fears surrounding Africanized bees, also known as killer bees, have become another danger for honeybees.  People will often kill any bee they see to avoid a run-in with killer bees. The Africanized bees are becoming more common in the southwestern United States.  

These bees are somewhat smaller than honeybees but it is difficult to tell them apart.  Surprisingly, their venom is no more potent than other bees, they are just much more aggressive about protecting their hives.  Africanized bees attack faster and in greater numbers.  

For those with an allergy to bee stings, any bee can be seen as a killer bee.  The Mayo Clinic reminds us that more people die because of this type of allergic reaction than they do from snakebites or the bite of an animal with rabies.    

A bee's work is never done 

A honeybee colony is made up of a queen, drones and workers.  The colony is operating on three fronts, reproducing, tending the hive and gathering nectar and pollen.   

The queen may live three to five years and her sole responsibility is to populate the colony. From spring through fall she may lay 2000 eggs per day.  She has a smooth stinger but can only use it to kill another queen.  Unlike other bees, she does not die after stinging.  

 A drone is a male bee present in the colony only during the summer to fertilize eggs. He dies after mating with the queen. He has no stinger and does not participate in foraging or maintaining the hive. Considerable energy is spent within the hive raising as many as 300 drones in a season but those remaining in the fall are driven off.   

The worker bee is an infertile female that only lives for six to eight weeks.  Hatched as an adult, her life begins with a week of tending to the brood and feeding the larva.  The second week is spent on the hive, storing honey, making repairs to the comb or guarding the entrance.  She will spend the remaining weeks of her life foraging for nectar, pollen, water and a substance called propolis, the "glue" of the hive.   

For us, aside from enjoying their honey, bees play a major role in the pollination of our food supplies.  In the United States we depend on them for pollinating 90 different crops.  Worldwide, honeybees account for 80% of insect pollination.   

Honey for health and happiness 

Old wives have known it for years and now new studies are beginning to show that honey is good for you.  Although it is nothing more than a combination of glucose and fructose, these are sugars that break down in your body more quickly than refined sugars and are said to enhance athletic performance by preventing fatigue.  

Research into honey has also revealed the presence of a unique chemical pinocembrin and other antioxidants. Critics point out that you would have to consume large quantities of honey to realize the benefits of these cancer-fighting agents. Others argue that honey is nevertheless a positive addition to a balanced diet.  

Local honey, that is honey derived from plants near where you live, is said to help guard against environmental allergies. When taken regularly, local varieties may play the part of an immune booster as allergens are delivered into your system in manageable doses. Look for local honey producers at farmer's markets or in smaller health food stores.  

Outside the diet, honey has long been used for its antibacterial properties. Honey is sometimes applied directly to minor cuts and burns to promote healing and prevent infection. It will also help bandages stay in place.   

Anyone who has enjoyed honey knows that just the taste will make you happy.  

Honey cautions 

Honey may seem harmless enough but everyone should be aware that it should not be given to infants that are less than a year old. The MayoClinic.com explains:  "Honey is a known source of bacterial spores that produce the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium makes a toxin that can cause infant botulism. This rare but serious form of food poisoning affects a baby's nervous system and can result in death. Unlike adults, infants haven't developed beneficial bacteria in their digestive tracts that can control botulism spores and prevent growth of the bacterium and production of its toxin." 

Another concern with honey is Chloramphenicol, an illegal antibiotic that has been found around the world in honey imported from China.  Most governments have recalled Chinese honey products and banned future imports.  Chloramphenicol is frequently used in veterinary medicine.  In humans it has the potential to cause a rare blood disorder that has been linked to cancer.   

The future of bees 

Bee breeding may hold the key to keeping the bee population healthy and thriving.  Carniolan bees from Italy and Russia are resistant to the varroa mite. By introducing this type of new queen, healthier colonies can be bred.  

Beekeepers are beginning to find new ways to treat the mite problems.  Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is one approach that works through combining biological, cultural and chemicals in a sensible manner that is best for the bees and the environment.  

With software such as VarroaPop, beekeepers are able to plug in actual facts about individual hives to determine the nature of infestation problems.  This allows them to apply miticides at the most appropriate time. 

As research and tools become more sophisticated, bee populations may be able to recover.    

What an herb gardener can do 

Attracting more bees to your herb garden is easy.  They especially like chives, lavender, borage, lemon balm and other mints.  The key is to let the plant flower. Consider growing two of each plant, one for you and one for the bees.  You can snip away at one for cooking and just let the other one grow.   

Master gardener Rebecca Kolls reports that bees are attracted to deep blues and purples so planting flowers with these colors will encourage visitors.  

If you want bees, don't use chemicals of any kind on your plants. Even those that are safe for vegetables such as the widely-available Sevin can be toxic to bees.  If you must treat your plants, do so late in the day after the bees have finished their work.   

Should a swarm settle around your home, call the local beekeepers association. They will know best how to address the problem without killing the bees.    

Honey in the kitchen 

Just about everyone has a jar or "bear" of honey in their cupboard. One of the most fascinating facts about honey is that it does not turn rancid.  Crystals may form as it ages but you can just place a jar of honey into a pan of simmering water for a few minutes and it will return it to a liquid.  Honey should not be refrigerated.   

If you wish to substitute honey for sugar in your cooking the conversion method is simple but results may be mixed.  The larger the changes you make, the more you will have to experiment, especially in baking.  In general, since honey is sweeter than sugar, 3/4 cup of honey is equal to 1 cup of sugar.  Since honey is a liquid, for every cup of honey used, you should reduce other liquids in the recipe by 1/2 cup. 

Two teaspoons per day is a recommended dosage if you are seeking the purported health benefits of local honey. Think of stirring it into your coffee or tea, squeezing a bit on breads and fruit or using as the sweetener in your morning cereal or your favorite smoothie recipe.   

Recipes

Mango Smoothie 

1 perfectly ripe mango

4 ounces tofu (one-quarter of a standard block)

1/2 cup to 2/3 cup soy milk

2 teaspoons honey

3 ice cubes 

Peel the mango by slicing off each end, place one level end on a cutting board and run a sharp knife down the sides, just under the skin. Next, cut the flesh away from the pit by slicing down again just until you feel the resistance at the center.  Cut away as much flesh as possible and discard the pit.  

Place the peeled mango flesh into a blender with the tofu, 1/2 cup soy milk and honey.  Blend well, adding more soy milk to achieve the desired consistency.  Toss in the ice cubes and blend until smooth. 

Makes 1 serving but is easily doubled. 

Honey Mustard Cream

This versatile base can be a sandwich spread, omelet filling or vegetable dip. Stir in finely chopped ham or chicken for a classic salad.  Thin the cream with a bit of milk for a salad dressing or sauce. Fresh herbs like chives or tarragon would make it even more special. 

4 teaspoons grainy mustard

4 teaspoons honey

1/2 cup sour cream 

Whisk the mustard and honey together in a small bowl. Stir in the sour cream until well blended. Use right away or store in the refrigerator for up to a week.   

Makes about 2/3 cup sauce.   

Related links 

The National Honey Board serving the United States with plenty of international statistics and information. 

The Honey Council serves Canada and includes detailed information about Chloramphenicol. 

Pioneer Thinking has a concise explanation about the benefits of using local honey.  

The Honey Locator helps you find honey products in your area. This site also has a wonderful section about the 300 different types of honey and the plants they are derived from. 

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