The Seven Species Of Beekeepers

This article was first published in the newsletter of The British Beekeepers’ Association (No. 222 – June 2015).

It’s taken me three years to confidently recite the seven species of honeybee*, but just as distinctive and varied are the different species of beekeeper. We come in all shapes and sizes, temperaments and abilities, and I’ve found it pays to know who you’re dealing with in order not to get stung.

When I first considered joining the community I presumed all beekeepers were jolly, eccentric men with beards. I imagined they would all listen to the Archers and buy their pants in M&S. I thought they would find a new, young novice like me to be a rather endearing revelation in the beekeeping world but I quickly realised I too fall into a very common breed of beekeeper … and, shame on me and my presumptions, I discovered that half of beekeepers are women.

The Virgin

I strongly identify with this novice group with their budget suits and eager grins. The virgins are becoming more common with 4,700 new beekeepers joining the BBKA each year recently.

Virgins are a bit nervous, often make mistakes, sometimes get lucky and often experience colony losses.  However, we’ve all been one and I think it’s really important to embrace new blood. The virgin does become Queen after all.

The Bumbler

I have just about advanced from Virgin to Bumbler, i.e. an improver.

I went from one to four hives. I’ve taken a couple of exams. I’ve bought lots of exciting equipment. And I can almost hold my own in a conversation with a Naturalist (we’ll get to them in a minute).

However, rather crucially, I still have not quite worked out how this beekeeping malarkey works. Like other bumblers, I do my best, try to make educated guesses but often fail miserably.

Still, you’ve gotta love a bumbler. We do, after all, make the rest of you guys look competent.

The Bee Whisperer

This is who all the bumblers aspire to be. The dudes who don’t wear gloves.  The people who are beyond exams, or, the Master Beekeepers who are the moderators of the BBKA online forum.

Earthy and natural or technical and scientific but always fearless and the bees know it. They definitely know their hoverflies from their honeybees and don’t have to google “how do I get rid of laying workers”.

It’s both intimidating and brilliant to meet a Bee Whisperer. It feels like you have ‘idiot’ spray painted on to your head but you also want them to tell you why your queen has not started laying.

So please bee whisperers – make friends with us bumblers … our bees need you!

The Natural Beekeeper

The philosophy of natural beekeepers is basically let nature take its course; that nature knows best. I wasn’t going to argue with my wife when she was screaming for an epidural and I’m afraid I do use a smoker and National hives.

However, I remain in awe of this purist beekeeper. YouTube clips of the Sun Hive are pretty amazing; made to mimic the more organic shape of natural bee hives. I like the thought of letting the bees feed on their own honey over winter instead of a sugar substitute. I love the idea of not using chemicals. But I’ve followed the conventional beekeeping road more travelled.

Of course, I’m slightly shamefaced when I come across a natural beekeeper but I hope they can appreciate that we are part of the same passionate genus, if not the same species.

The Wagglers

Bees do the waggle dance to attract attention and there is a new breed of beekeeper which isn’t shy of showing off their hives. From the trendy Hoxton boys with their beards, to the bloggers like me; we are just as likely to send a Tweet when we discover our queen as we are to mark her.

The old school may look on bemused but there are benefits to this swarm of social media. More people are attracted to looking after bees and we are all becoming better beekeepers by sharing information.

The Workers

Some may see profiteering from honey not to be in the romantic spirit of the craft but I think any beekeeper who advances UK honey production and availability is a positive.

Workers may be producing tons of honey rather than tens of jars but basically that’s because they are doing something right. I’ve visited several large producers myself and I can vouch for the fact the sites remain gorgeous and the honey super-tasty.

Such is the appetite to turn a hobby into a career, the Bee Farmers Association now runs an apprenticeship scheme for people wanting to become professional beekeepers. And good luck to them I say.

The Foragers

Like bees, these beekeepers are pretty thrifty. They get scraps of wood and turn them into fully functioning hives. Flat packs are an anathema to them.  And they probably shake their head in disbelief at people like me who are afraid to drill a hole and have been known to assemble brood boxes in such a way that the frames don’t fit inside.  OK … I’m going to admit something … it’s actually cheaper for me to buy pre-assembled hives because of all the mistakes I make! I am 0% forager.

Conclusion

The BBKA has about 23,000 beekeepers and, of course it’s simplistic to categorise only seven breeds, but it’s clear we do come in very distinctive varieties.

We all have varied styles and purposes and sometimes, like the bees themselves, we can be a bit brutal with each other. Still, like any hive, the crucial thing to remember is that we are all part of one community; one that hopefully has the common goal of keeping bee colonies flourishing (whilst enjoying some honey on our porridge).

* I understand there are seven species of honeybee, all members of the genus Apis.  Apis mellifera (European honey bee).  Apis cerana (Asiatic honey bee).  Apis florea (red dwarf honey bee) and Apis andreniformis (black dwarf honey bee).  Apis dorsata (giant honey bee).  Apis koschevnikovi (Koschevnikov’s bee). Africanized bees.

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