Unique Muskoka August

not concentrating on the cost of the dollar or
anything else.”
For newcomers, there are a few lessons
before getting to that state of oneness with
the bees.
First off: it’s expensive. And time
consuming. Starting a hive requires an outlay
of about $170 for the hive alone – plus parts.
Queens run from $25 to more than $45 and
the starter colony to go with it – known as
the nucleus, or “nuc” colony – is about $180.
Smith is ordering six queens from
California. Others are shipped from
Australia, New Zealand or Chile: it’s an
international trade. New frames have to be
added as the existing ones fill with eggs or
honey.
An electric fence is a necessity in Muskoka.
Bears love hives: they’re after the larvae as
much as the honey, and their technique is
smash and grab. You also run the risk of
losing the whole hive with winter die-back.
A harsh winter or a changeable spring is hard
on a hive; experience teaches when the hive
needs sugar water for extra food.
And there’s medication. Honeybees are
vulnerable to a host of diseases, pests and
parasites. Formic acid, for example, is an
organic pesticide that protects against varroa
mites, which can wipe out an entire hive.
“Honeybees are not natural; they are
domesticated,” explains Susan Chan, one of
Ontario’s top bee researchers and a faculty
Top: Tri-colored bumblebees are common wild bees in Muskoka. Above: Beekeeper Jim Smith checks a
frame to find the queen. Right: A hive holds several frames that can be removed individually.
August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 19