Local Bee keeper adapts to changes
Jim Epperson editor@bullardnews.com

Recently Robert Hayes, who is a beekeeper for pleasure in Bullard, had to buy a stronger bee suit in case he ever faced Africanized bees, informally known as killer bees.

Hayes said that although it is not often talked about in East Texas, Africanized bees are here. The biggest difference between the westernized honey bee and the Africanized bee is domestication.

"The Africanized bee is a lot more aggressive," he said. "But they are better pollinators."

Hayes said that children should stay away from all bees because it is difficult to tell the difference between Africanized bees and common honey bees, except for their aggression.

Like the introduction of Africanized bees to the Western Hemisphere, Hayes said many aspects to raising a beehive in East Texas are changing.

It is more dangerous for bees now, they are susceptible to more threats, like the flying beetle or colony collapse disorder.

Five years ago no beekeeper in East Texas would dare have fire ants near their hives, which can house more than 40,000 bees. But after the introduction of the flying beetle in Florida, the fire ant became a tool to fight the flying beetle.

Courtesy Photo Robert Hayes holds a swarm of bees in northern Bullard.

The beetle lays larva in or near a bee's hive. The larva eat through the combs of the hive and eat the bee's honey. Reports across the United States have stated that the flying beetle has destroyed entire hives.

When the larva hatch, the go to the ground and bury themselves in a hole. But now the fire ants eat them.

Hayes said that if there are no more bees it could end up like the "Bee Movie," where the bees go on strike and nothing is pollinated.

"Have you ever seen an apple with a weird shape? That means it wasn't pollinated properly."

Hayes belongs to the East Texas Beekeepers Association, and in December the group will offer classes to public on how to become a beekeeper.

Everything about the bee fascinates Hayes.

"Nature fascinates me. It's one of God's gifts for us. Honey is food from the God's."

Hayes gets his honey from his bees, but he does not have it pasteurized. He does not recommend it to children under two years old.

And if taken, Hayes says, that the old-timers called the honey medicine because it can help with sinuses.

"I make East Texas honey," he said.

All the pollen to make the honey comes from flowers around the area. (A bee will only travel up to three miles) This pollen helps fight allergies.

During the winter months the worker bees will be fanning the queen to keep her warm.

"I'll be helping them make it though," Hayes said.

The East Texas Beekeepers Association meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:45 pm in room 104 of the Tyler Jr. College West Campus at 1530 SSW Loop 323 in Tyler.

You can find them online at: easttexasbeekeepersassociation. com