12/16/2023 0 Comments Honey bee acres![]() ![]() Isaac Hopkins, regarded as the father of beekeeping in New Zealand, observed that by the 1860s, bee nests in the bush were plentiful, and considerable quantities of honey were being sold by Māori – the country’s first commercial beekeepers. ![]() The New Zealand bush proved a hospitable place for bees, and the number of wild colonies, through swarming, multiplied rapidly, especially in the Bay of Islands. In 1848, William Cotton wrote a manual for New Zealand beekeepers, describing the basics of bee husbandry and production of honey. More bee species were brought to New Zealand in 1843. While New Zealand already had native species of bees, they were not suitable for producing honey, their role was as pollinators. She brought two hives ashore when she landed at the Mangungu Mission Station at Hokianga in March 1839. Mary Bumby, the sister of a Methodist missionary, is considered the first person to introduce honey bees to New Zealand. New Zealand is now recognised as one of the world’s most advanced beekeeping countries and is a leader in several important fields. In that time, beekeeping has moved from being a home craft or lifestyle choice, into a progressive industry. Honey bees have been kept in New Zealand for more than 150 years. ![]() Guard bees are responsible for making sure only honey bees that belong to the colony enter the hive, while the nurse bees feed, clean, and make food for the larvae, queen and drones.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |