Robbins Report

In Search of the Queen - A Pictorial Essay

A Small Effort to Support Local Pollination

   The careful and methodical search for the queen is on.

Story & Photographs by Peter Robbins

Sometimes you have to make a decision to do the right thing. Although it may be a little more costly, it benefits us all.  Recently while making some repairs to a 230-year-old antique house in Barnstable Village, with my "Epipen" in my pocket, I noticed a lot of honeybee activity in one corner.  Upon closer examination, I discovered thousands of the little critters zooming in and out of the hive.  It would have been easiest to get some spray bombs, saturate the area, then open it up.  But after a great deal of discussion with the owner, and considering all the issues surrounding the "Agricultural Crisis" because of a lack of honeybees, the decision was made to relocate them.

After I contacted the very informative Andy Morris of Earthsong Farm in Cummaquid, a plan was decided on.  Andy explained what he was going to do and placed great emphasis on hopefully finding the queen as the hive was dismantled. After the fascia board was removed, the air was alive with honeybees. Suited up, Andy quickly went to work with a special vacuum and removed some two pounds of the honey bee workers.  Section after section of honeycomb was removed, dripping with some of the best tasting honey I have ever sampled.

Morris attributed the honey's quality to the abundance of quality trees on the property. Morris, an active member of the Barnstable County Beekeepers Association, was happy with the find as he painstakingly removed each section and placed them in special racks. Swarms of bees followed and attached themselves to each section as they were examined carefully for the all important "Queen." Morris added, "If we find the queen we have a special cage for her.  If she is located all the workers will swarm to her."

As bees visit various sources of pollen and nectar, they transfer pollen grains from one source to another fertilizing them, boosting seed and fruit production. " In a good year, each hive can produce between 70 and 100 lbs of honey," Morris explained. The process didn't go unnoticed. People would stop and comment, some jumped out of there cars and took photographs, quickly retreating when they saw the thousands of honeybees buzzing around the area. The process and the amount of honeycombs removed from the site was fascinating.  In the end, it was decided that relocating these marvels of nature was the right thing to do, even though it delayed repairs for a few days.  Anyone in a similar situation should consider doing the same.

Buying local produce has become more and more important. Not only for quality, but to support our local farmers of all types at the same time. More information can be found on the Barnstable County Beekeepers Association's web page.  Click here for a list of 2008 summer farmers' markets on Cape Cod.

Images on the right from top to bottom: The fascia board is removed, exposing plenty of bees and honeycombs;  close-up of the bees and honeycombs; honeycombs are carefully removed in sections; sections are carefully placed in racks; a special vacuum is used to remove the worker bees for relocation.