Unit 4: Bee Economy
Table of Contents
1. Products of Apiculture Industry and its Uses
Beekeeping is a valuable industry not only for its primary product, honey, but for a wide range of other marketable goods. The true economic value also includes the invaluable service of pollination.
Primary Products (Directly from the Hive)
| Product | Source / How it's made | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Honey | Bees collect nectar from flowers, store it in their "honey stomach," and pass it to other bees who add enzymes. It's stored in wax cells and fanned by their wings to evaporate water until it becomes thick, "ripened" honey. | |
| Bees Wax | Secreted as small, white scales from wax glands on the underside of young worker bees. The bees chew this wax to build the hexagonal comb. | |
| Propolis | A resinous, sticky "bee glue" collected by bees from tree buds (e.g., poplar, pine). They mix it with their own enzymes. | |
| Pollen | Bees collect pollen (the plants' male gametes) and pack it into "pollen baskets" (corbicula) on their hind legs. It is their primary source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. |
Other Valuable Products
- Royal Jelly: A high-nutrition, protein-rich food secreted by nurse bees, used exclusively to feed the queen and very young larvae. It is harvested and sold as a health supplement, though its benefits are debated.
- Bee Venom: The "poison" from the bee's stinger. It is collected on electrified plates and used in "apitherapy" for treating inflammation, arthritis, and other autoimmune disorders.
The Most Valuable "Product": Pollination
While not a physical product you can sell from the hive, the most significant economic contribution of apiculture is pollination services. The cross-pollination of crops (like almonds, apples, cucumbers, and berries) by honey bees is essential for food production and is valued at billions of dollars annually, far exceeding the value of honey.