As spring approaches, announcements for beekeeping workshops abound. Interest in hobby beekeeping has grown with the increased concern over Colony Collapse Disorder, and one of the best places to start learning about beekeeping is from local clubs or organizations that offer classes.
For urban beekeepers the most common question that arises during one of these classes is: Do you tell your neighbor you want to start a hive, or do you start the hive, then deal with the aftermath (if any) arises? The answer to that question depends on the beekeeper’s personality, and the personality of the neighbors.
The common fear for the non-beekeeping neighbors involves pain and fear. They don’t want to get stung, and they’re afraid they (or their children) might be allergic. After all, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, an estimated 2 million Americans have a life-threatening allergic reaction to insect stings.
To put that number into perspective, that’s 2 million out of 309 million Americans. Or, point six (0.6%) percent of all insect stings – bees, wasps, hornets and fire ants. Twice as many people own horses than those who have a severe reaction to insect stings.
Still, urban beekeepers feel fairly certain that any sting that happens in the neighborhood will be their honey bees’ fault. So rather than admit to apiculture up front, the tuck their hives into the backyard without whispering a word to the family next door.
If you, the left-in-the-dark neighbor, get stung can you legitimately accuse your neighbor’s bees of the dirty deed? Assuming you weren’t harassing the hive or accidentally stepped on a dandelion-sipping honey bee, probably not. Honey bees really do tend to sting while defending the hive (and die in the process).
That’s no consolation as you run for the baking soda and Sting Relief spray. Before you complain to your neighbor, first identify your arthropodal assailant. It might not be as easy as you think – look at the photos below and see if you can find the honey bee.
Photo by Mike http://tiny.cc/IcsDL
Photo by FromDax http://tiny.cc/3fAUR
Photo by Lynn.art http://tiny.cc/OFmGk
Photo by Ordale http://tiny.cc/sUe5H
Photo by Fir0002/Flagstaffotos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Free_Documentation_License