The Solar “Bee-clipse”

Tapcomb
Tapcomb
Aug 23, 2017 · 3 min read

Bees Will be Buzzing on Monday, Big Time!

People may be pouring into Oregon for the upcoming solar eclipse or filling the Internet with sun-centric memes, but humans aren’t the only ones buzzing about it. Honey bees may be lax when it comes to posting on Facebook, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t massively excited about this astronomical event, too. In fact, research shows bees can be up to 600% more active, even during a partial solar eclipse.

While no one can be sure what kind of activity beekeepers will see on Monday, it’s a great time for everyone to check in on the plight of the honey bee and Colony Collapse Disorder, regardless of what may “bee” happening in the sky.

You remember CCD, right? Eleven years ago, it burst into the mainstream media. Like a story that could have been pulled from the Twilight Zone, worker bees were abandoning their hives, disappearing seemingly into thin air, and leaving nothing behind but a helpless queen and her equally helpless brood, who were then fated to die.

Why was this such big news?

As the most important pollinator in both commercial farming and backyard gardening, CCD put the global food chain in jeopardy. Experts think multiple factors — from lack of genetic diversity to poor nutrition, parasites, and even sunspots — may have caused the crisis. While the worst seems to have passed, about 30% of colonies are still lost each winter. Though CCD is on the decline, bees aren’t out of the woods yet and may never be, no puns intended.

Many American communities still have prohibitive or outright bans on beekeeping, but honey bees still need our help, and we’ll always need them. It’s a perfectly symbiotic relationship.

What many people may not realize, however, is that we’re not the only ones who depend on this industrious little insect. As NationalHoneybeeDay.com points out, “Your local ecosystem of food production for wild animals and birds is dependent on this same pollination. Beekeepers fill the void with their honey bees. It is that simple.”

If you’ve been thinking about starting a hive or two, take the time to get the information you need to make that decision. Beekeeping is an incredibly rewarding hobby and great family experience, but there is a learning curve. Fortunately, veteran beekeepers are always willing to help.

To find your local beekeeping association or keepers’ club, visit:

http://www.bees-on-the-net.com/bee-clubs-by-state/

You can also spend some time online learning about the new and improved way to keep bees. Collecting honey used to destroy the comb and kill the insects that built it, but that’s no longer the case thanks to companies like super green, super bee-friendly Tapcomb, which also happens to make a hive that’s super easy on the keeper.

If you’re even remotely interested in the plight of bees, learning a little about Tapcomb is well-worth your time:

https://tapcomb.com/

After you watch the eclipse, participate in the “bee-clipse” — and maybe next time the moon crosses the sun’s path, you’ll be buzzing around your yard, rooftop, or garden with bees of your own.

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Tapcomb

Tapcomb is the worlds first truly bee-friendly tappable hive. Discover the most natural honey extraction method ever created! https://tapcomb.com/

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