Story summary
Bees are valued in New Zealand because they make honey, which is sold locally and exported, and they pollinate crops.
Native bees
New Zealand has 28 species of native bee. They pollinate plants, but do not make enough honey for commercial use.
Introduced bees
In the early days of European settlement, bees were needed to pollinate introduced plants, especially white clover, which had been sown on new pastures. Honeybees were first brought from England in 1839, and bumblebees in 1885.
Beekeeping
Commercial beekeeping began in 1878, when the Langstroth hive began to be used in New Zealand. The hive is made up of stacks of boxes that slide out like trays. In these trays, bees build their honeycombs and deposit honey.
After the world wars a number of returned servicemen took up beekeeping and the industry thrived. The demand for honey and other bee products has continued to grow. Today, hives are mostly run by large companies rather than individuals.
Diseases
Bees in New Zealand have fewer diseases than those overseas, but American foulbrood disease and the varroa mite are problems that are closely managed to minimise their effects.
The beehive
A honeybee colony or beehive may have up to 60,000 members, made up of:
- the queen, who lays eggs
- drones, who are males, mate with the queen, and have no stinger
- workers, who are females, feed the larvae, drones and queen, build and clean honeycombs, gather and store food, and guard the hive.
Products
Honey is eaten and also used in cosmetic creams. Propolis and royal jelly are supposed to help boost the immune system. Beeswax is an ingredient in candles, cosmetics and furniture polish.