Maine State Beekeepers Association

Introduction

Honey bees not only produce honey but also play a vital role in the balance of nature, especially in pollination of agricultural crops, horticultural crops, and home gardens. Pollination is important for the viability of many farming enterprises, market gardens, orchards, and seed industries. Some important Maine food crops, including apples, raspberries, blueberries, and squashes, either depend on or benefit greatly from honey bee pollination. It has been estimated that work by honey bees contributes about $100 to $150 million annually to the Maine economy. In 1975 the honey bee was officially designated as Maine’s state insect in recognition of its importance to the Maine economy.

Beekeeping is becoming increasingly popular in non-rural areas. Maine currently has close to 2,000 registered beekeepers who manage around 10,000 hives. Beekeeping provides honey for home consumption, enjoyment in watching these highly social creatures, and the opportunity to join an amateur beekeeping group. However, honey bees possess a sting and therefore require proper and responsible management so they do not create a problem for neighbors.

This document is intended as a reference and standard for honey bee management in Maine, with particular emphasis on urban/suburban locations.

It may serve as

• A basis for local governments to create uniform codes
• A resource for information to reinforce community confidence in the safety of beekeeping activities
• A standard reference should complaints or conflicts about beekeeping activities arise
• A compendium of best management practices that all Maine beekeepers should follow.

It is intended that these Best Management Practices form a prescription for harmonious cooperation between beekeepers, neighbors, and other landowners. The guidelines for bee colony management in these Best Management Practices also constitute a standard for beekeepers operating in Maine to follow, and should be recognized and used as such by apiarists, decision-making authorities, and the general public. Finally, in the case of ordinances enacted by local authorities, the Best Management Practices provide a consistent approach for clarifying and resolving issues. Beekeepers and local authorities who need more information should consult the Maine State Beekeepers Association or the Maine Department of Agriculture. (See below for contact information.)

Requirement to Register

It is a requirement under the Title 7 MSRA, section 2701 to become a registered beekeeper with the Maine Department of Agriculture if one or more hives are kept. Registration is valid for a twelve-month period expiring in mid-June. Registration forms can be downloaded from the Maine State Apiary Program website.

Renewal forms are sent annually to previously registered beekeepers for return to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry along with the appropriate annual fee specified in the fee schedule. Beekeepers who change addresses are requested to notify the Department.

Swarms and Bee Enquiries

Contact the MSBA’s Swarm Team about swarms on your property or elsewhere. An enquiry form and more information can be found on the swarm page. The list of beekeepers who collect swarms is updated annually.

Swarm inquiries from the public may also be directed to the Maine Department of Agriculture, to County Extension Offices, or to the Maine State Beekeepers Association. Other general beekeeping questions may be directed to the Maine Department of Agriculture or the Maine State Beekeepers Association.

Hive Densities

One of the primary limitations to keeping bees is the real or perceived interaction between the bees and the people who live in or use the surrounding area. To overcome this problem, a hive density limit is proposed that minimizes potential conflict between people and honey bees, assuming that beekeepers follow the management practices outlined in this document. (In the recommendations below, “undeveloped property” means any idle land that has no structures or facilities intended for human use or occupancy. Property used exclusively for streets, highways, or commercial agriculture is considered undeveloped property.)

Hive placement

Correct placement of hives is a most important consideration for responsible beekeeping in urban/suburban situations. Hives must be in a quiet area of the lot, not placed directly against a neighboring property unless a solid fence or impenetrable vegetative barrier not less than six feet high forms the property boundary. Keep hives as far away as possible from roads, sidewalks, and rights of way.

Hive entrances should face in such a direction that bees fly across your property. If this is impossible, use barriers (hedges, shrubs, or fencing six to twelve feet high) to redirect the bees’ flight pattern.

Swarming is a natural instinct of honeybees that occurs chiefly from spring to early summer. They should be collected to prevent their becoming a nuisance. Honey bee colonies can and should be managed to prevent or minimize swarming. For example, brood chamber manipulation, colony division, adding supers for brood rearing and honey storage, and replacing old or failing queens can all reduce the swarming impulse.

These and other management practices to control swarming are explained in detail in good beekeeping textbooks. Beekeepers who learn of a swarm should take reasonable measures to see that the swarm is retrieved. See “Swarms and Bee Enquiries” above for help with a swarm.

Provision of water

Beekeepers should provide water for their bees before locating them in their yard. Bees prefer a sunny place with surface moisture, for example wet sand or gravel or the edge of a birdbath. If you establish such water sources, your bees will become habituated to them and will be less likely to visit swimming pools or hot tubs. Remember that in very hot weather, bees use a large amount of water to maintain temperature and humidity within the hive.

In any instance that a colony exhibits unusual defensive characteristics (stinging or attempting to sting without provocation) or exhibits a frequent tendency to swarm, it is the beekeeper’s duty to requeen from European stock.

Robbing Behavior

When nectar is scarce, honey bees may rob honey from other hives. Under such conditions, beekeepers should work hives for only a very short time, if at all. Exposing honey (especially sticky honeycombs) outdoors often encourages robbing. All spilled honey should be cleaned up immediately. To prevent robbing, buildings and trailers used for honey extraction must be made beeproof, as far as is practicable.

Disease control

There are a number of honey bee diseases and pests, of which American Foulbrood (AFB) is the most serious. Beekeepers should be extremely cautious about using old hive equipment or purchasing hives from sources that are not certain to be AFB-free. (Contact the Maine Department of Agriculture to have used beekeeping equipment inspected.) Finally, it is incumbent on beekeepers to manage parasitic mites and other pests responsibly for both colony health and honey quality.

Transportation of hives

Beekeepers must take appropriate care when transporting hives of honey bees. All loads of hives and supers of honey must be secured in accordance with Maine Department of Transportation regulations. Bees being transported should have entrance screens or be secured under netting.

Recommendations for Considerate Hive Management

Beekeepers should take into account that weather conditions influence bee behavior and plan to work bees when conditions are favorable. They should make sure that neighbors are not working or relaxing outdoors when they open hives and should try to perform hive manipulations as quickly as possible, with minimum disturbance to the bees. Extended hive manipulations, particularly removing honey, should be carefully planned to accommodate neighbors’ activities. Beekeepers should use smoke when working bees and should smoke hive entrances before mowing or trimming in the hive area. Clippings and exhaust should be directed away from hive entrances.

Additional Information

MAINE STATE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
https://mainebeekeepers.org/

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Division of Plant Industry
28 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0028
Jennifer Lund, State Apiarist
jennifer.lund@maine.gov
Office: (207) 287-7562
Mobile: (207) 441-5822

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OFFICES
For information on all county extension offices: University of Maine Cooperative Extension 5741 Libby Hall Orono, ME 04469-5741 (207) 581-3188 1-800-287-0274 (in Maine)
http://extension.umaine.edu/

Acknowledgements

The Maine State Beekeepers Association gratefully acknowledges our debt to the Code of Practice for Urban Beekeeping in Queensland (http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/bees/16815.html), published by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland, Australia (www.dpi.qld.gov.au), and to the Model Beekeeping Ordinance for Louisiana Local and Municipal Governments, published by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.

Information is provided in this document as general advice on sound beekeeping practices. Beekeepers, local authorities, and others should seek professional advice on specific issues and situations.

© 2020, Maine State Beekeepers Association, Inc.