The buzz about honey bees is about to start

| 11 Apr 2019 | 07:27

    WARWICK — Bothered by buzzing insects in your barn, shed or house?
    See a swirling swarm of bees land on your trees?
    Don’t pick up a can of Raid or call an exterminator. You might be blessed with bees.
    Honey bees are responsible for pollinating more than one third of our food supply and 90 percent of wild plants. Know, though, that honey bee swarm season is late April through June.
    Take a picture of the insect, enlarge it and check out the orientation of the wings.
    Honey bee wings are perpendicular to the body.
    Wasp, hornet and yellow jacket wings are located above the long segment of the body.
    Also take a picture of the opening to the building where you see the insects coming and going.
    Then call Roger Moss, a member of Southern Orange Beekeepers at (845) 645-6749. He, or another club member, will respond promptly.
    If these beekeepers determine that you do, indeed have honey bees, they’ll make every attempt to remove them safely, the same day, if at all possible.
    They don’t offer demolition services in order to reach bees residing deep in residential buildings. But if the rescue team can reach your unwanted bees, the insects will be rehoused in a proper beehive and carefully nurtured through the summer.
    If the rescued, re-hived bees produce enough honey to get them through the winter, with a little extra to hold them over until the spring, you’ll receive a jar or honey courtesy of your rescued bees.
    Want to learn more about bees?
    Experienced beekeepers, hobbyists, commercial and newbees are welcome to join the club that meets the second Saturday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. (newbees at 6:30 p.m.), at the Senior Center, Warwick Town Hall Complex, 132 Kings Highway.