Discover the Fascinating World of Honey Bees
How do bees make honey? What happens inside a beehive? And why are these small insects so important to the world around us?
Join HoneyGramz beekeeper Ruth Harrigan for “The Joys of Beekeeping,” a presentation sponsored by Queens Public Library. Ruth introduces the fascinating lives of honey bees and the work that goes into caring for them.
Whether you’re curious about starting a hive or simply want to understand where honey comes from, this presentation is an inviting place to begin.
How Do Bees Make Honey?
Honey begins with nectar collected from flowers. Bees bring nectar back to the hive, where they process it and reduce its moisture before storing it in honeycomb.
For the colony, honey is an important food reserve. For us, it offers a delicious connection to the flowers and landscapes bees visit.
Ruth’s presentation explores the question of how honey is made, helping viewers appreciate the activity behind every jar.
Meet the Bees Inside the Hive
A honey bee colony is a community with different roles. Worker bees perform tasks such as caring for young bees, building comb, gathering food, and defending the hive.
The queen’s main role is laying eggs, while drones are male bees whose reproductive role is mating with queens.
Ruth also addresses questions about queen bees and stingers. These topics offer a closer look at how a colony functions and what makes its members different.
Why Bees Matter
As bees visit flowers to gather food, they can transfer pollen between plants. This supports the reproduction of many flowering plants, including crops.
Understanding bees helps us appreciate the connections between pollinators, plants, and our food. You can explore another part of their work in our article about bee pollen.
Watch “The Joys of Beekeeping”
Ready to learn more? Watch Ruth Harrigan’s presentation for an introduction to honey, hive life, and the importance of our buzzing neighbors.