Honey Bee Facts

• A bee colony can vary in numbers from 60,000 plus in the summer to around 5,000 to 10,000 in the winter
• The honeybee colony consists of males (drones) and 2 castes (types) of female; the queen (fertile) and workers (infertile)
• A queen can live up to five years
• A worker bee carries out a predetermined set of duties within its lifetime
• Worker bees generally live for up to six weeks during the summer months but considerably longer during the winter
• It is estimated that the nectar from about 2 million flowers is collected to make 1 pound of honey
• A hive of bees can fly approximately 55,000 miles to make a 454 g (1 lb) jar of honey.

For more information go to

• BBKA Honey Bees
• Honey Bee Suite Full of good tips with amazing pictures.
• Bumblebee Conservation Trust  Learning Zone.