Dashon honey

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) rely on a complex diet to maintain colony health, productivity, and resilience. Among the most vital components of their nutrition are proteins and carbohydrates. These macronutrients not only fuel daily activity but also influence brood development, immunity, longevity, and foraging efficiency. Understanding their roles and dietary sources is essential for both traditional and modern beekeeping, especially as environmental changes and habitat loss continue to affect floral diversity. The Role of Proteins in Honey Bee Physiology Proteins are critical for the growth and development of honey bee larvae, as well as for the maintenance and repair of tissues in adult bees. They are especially important in the production of royal jelly, brood food, enzymes, and immune proteins. Nurse bees require high protein intake for gland development, particularly the hypopharyngeal glands, which secrete larval food (Crailsheim et al., 1992). Protein deficiency can lea...

  Drone Pheromones in Apis mellifera Honey bees communicate extensively through pheromones, with most research focused on the queen and workers. Drones (male bees) also produce pheromones, although far less is known about them. Recent studies have begun to illuminate the chemical signals male honey bees produce, when they produce them, and how these cues function in mating and colony dynamics (Gryboś et al., 2025). Pheromone Sources and Chemical Nature in Drones Male honey bee pheromones derive primarily from the drones’ mandibular glands. Chemical analyses show that drone mandibular gland secretions are dominated by fatty acids (both saturated and unsaturated, some with methyl branching) ranging roughly from 9 to 22 carbons in length (Villar et al., 2018). Notably, two major components identified are hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid) and (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid (oleic acid) (Lensky et al., 1985). These compounds and a few others make up the bulk of the drone’s pheromonal blend. ...

Understanding Burr Comb and Cross Comb in Langstroth Hives Burr Comb Burr comb refers to small, irregular wax structures built by bees in unintended gaps within the hive, such as between frames, under the lid, or across the inner cover. These structures arise when spacing within the hive exceeds the ideal bee space, which is approximately 6 to 9 millimetres. In these situations, bees instinctively fill the space with wax or propolis (Bradbear, 2009; Seeley, 2010). Langstroth’s original design emphasized this precise spacing, noting that deviations would prompt bees to either block tight gaps with propolis or fill wide spaces with comb (Langstroth, 1853). Cross Comb Cross comb occurs when bees construct comb at angles that do not align with the frames. Instead of building straight within the plane of a frame, the comb stretches across adjacent frames. This results in disorganized construction that complicates inspections and often leads to the destruction of comb during hive man...

  Raising Queens from Swarm, Supersedure, and Emergency Cells In managed beekeeping, the type of queen cell used to raise a new queen can significantly influence the overall success and productivity of the resulting colony. Beekeepers commonly rely on swarm, supersedure, or emergency queen cells when rearing replacement queens or expanding colonies. However, these cell types vary in terms of biological origin, the circumstances in which they are produced, and the quality of queens they generate. Drawing from contemporary scientific literature, this article explores these differences in depth and outlines when and why each queen cell type might be preferred. Queen Cell Types and Their Biological Origins Swarm cells are produced by colonies in preparation for swarming — a natural method of colony reproduction. These elongated, peanut-shaped cells are typically located along the edges of brood comb and are created under conditions of resource abundance and strong colony vigor. T...

Before the 1850s, beekeepers commonly used fixed comb hives such as straw skeps or hollow log gums. In these traditional hives, bees attached their comb directly to the internal surfaces, making it impossible to harvest honey or inspect brood

Drone honey bees ( Apis mellifera ) are biologically specialized for one function: mating with a queen. Unlike worker bees, drones do not forage, care for the brood, or build comb. They exist solely to pass on genetic material.

  Do Bees Eat Honey? Yes, honey bees ( Apis mellifera ) eat the honey they produce. Honey is their primary source of carbohydrates and is vital not only for daily energy but also for other metabolic functions such as thermoregulation, brood care, and wax secretion (Quinlan et al., 2023; Huang, 2018). Nutritional Function of Honey Honey is composed primarily of simple sugars — fructose and glucose — making up about 80 – 85% of its content, with water accounting for 15 – 17% (Martinotti & Ranzato, 2023). It also contains trace amounts of enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals (Rao et al., 2016). This sugar-rich composition makes honey an efficient energy source. Worker bees consume honey to fuel flight, fanning, foraging, and maintaining hive temperature. During cold periods or nectar scarcity, bees rely entirely on their honey reserves for survival (Mississippi State University Extension, 2019). Honey and Wax Production Beyond energy, honey is also essential in w...

Queen rearing is a vital technique in apiculture that enables beekeepers to propagate desirable traits, maintain colony health, and increase productivity. To achieve consistent success, queen rearing must be based on a strong understanding of honey bee biology

Swarming is the principal reproductive mechanism in Apis mellifera colonies. It allows a single colony to reproduce by dividing into two or more separate units. During a swarm, the old queen leaves the parent hive with a substantial

Honey production is not merely the result of bee activity. It is the product of a well coordinated biochemical and ecological process that begins with flowering plants and ends with sealed honeycomb cells.

Kenya’s apiculture sector holds great promise, especially in regions where ecological conditions and community engagement are favorable. Among the most significant contributors to this sector are Baringo and Kitui counties.

Baringo County, situated in Kenya’s Rift Valley region, is one of the country's most ecologically favorable areas for apiculture. The county’s expansive arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), rich biodiversity, and low population pressure in certain zones

What a Baringo Beekeeper Should Know Beekeeping in Baringo County is a practice deeply embedded in the region’s climate and ecology. With its semi-arid environment, Baringo experiences a bimodal rainfall pattern , meaning the year is divided into two main rainy seasons,  March to June (long rains) and October to December (short rains). These rainfall periods govern the blooming of nectar-producing trees and, consequently, determine the honey harvesting seasons. After each rainy season, the landscape comes alive with blooms from key indigenous trees that are vital to honey production. These include Acacia senegal (gum Arabic tree) , Acacia mellifera (blackthorn) , and Vachellia tortilis (umbrella thorn) . These trees respond quickly to the rains, producing nectar-rich flowers that trigger honey flows. Honey harvesting in Baringo typically occurs in the dry months that follow the rains . The first major harvesting season is January to March , which follows the short rains. Dur...