Why Harvest Honey at Night? Debunking Myths and Understanding Bee Behavior

Aloha,

Collecting honey boxes from hives must be done during daylight hours. Most flying bees will be out collecting nectar, thereby minimizing their involvement in defending the hive. This is a universal practice among beekeepers to ensure the safety of both the harvesters and the bees.

Africanized Bees

The phrase 'Africanized Bees' often brings to mind images of highly defensive and aggressive bees. However, it's important to understand that their offensive range is measured in kilometers rather than feet, which means that the fear of being attacked is greatly exaggerated in many cases.

East African Lowland Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera Scutellata)

There is a specific breed of honey bee known as East African Lowland Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera Scutellata) that is considered highly aggressive and venomous. Due to their nocturnal habits, these bees tend to be less active during the night. Therefore, people who harvest this type of honey often do so at night when the bees are less likely to fully engage in defense and cannot see to fly effectively.

Daytime Harvesting by Beekeepers

Most beekeepers, including myself, conduct honey harvesting during the day. This method is more practical and safer for everyone involved. By harvesting during the day, we can easily observe any aggressive behavior from the bees, which is crucial in preventing accidental stings.

Myth Busting

Somewhere, somehow, someone has been passing on the notion that honey should be harvested at night. However, this idea is largely based on misconceptions. If you are trying to open a hive in a tree, during the day, you might have a better chance of escaping some of the bees' counterattack. Similarly, it makes more sense to use chemical methods if intending to kill all the bees and then collect the combs. However, in areas where people climb trees to gather honey from wild colonies, it is done during the day.

Nighttime Harvesting for Feral Hives

Nighttime harvesting is indeed more commonly associated with feral hives or wild colonies of honeybees. These bees are often more active during the night, as they tend to remain in their hives during the day. Thus, nighttime harvesting ensures that most of the bees are still within the hive, making the process safer for the beekeeper.

In conclusion, while nighttime harvesting is a practical strategy for certain types of highly aggressive honey bees, it is not a universal practice. Most beekeepers, including myself, prefer to harvest during the day to ensure the well-being of both the bees and the humans involved.

It's essential to dispel the myths around nighttime harvesting and understand the specific circumstances under which it might be necessary. By doing so, we can promote safer and more informed practices in beekeeping and honey harvesting.