Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => REPRINT ARTICLE ARCHIVES => Topic started by: Understudy on May 31, 2006, 09:07:59 pm

Title: Bees swarm intersection and strange herb
Post by: Understudy on May 31, 2006, 09:07:59 pm

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=189322
Okay so I read this article, and noticed something that caught my eye. The bees liked something called Stevia. So I read a little on Stevia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia
Does anyone grow this or have they had any experience with it and honeybees?

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Title: Bees swarm intersection and strange herb
Post by: Michael Bush on May 31, 2006, 10:45:39 pm

I didn't know bees would be inerested in it.  It has basicaly no nutritive value.  It is reminecent of Licorice root, being a very sweet taste but not at all like sugar.  It makes a nice sugar substitute for those with diabetes.

But it just sounds like a swarm to me.  Amazing the beekeeping facts you can pick up from a news article.

"The problems of having an urban beehive can hit in the spring when queen bees hatch. If those queens can't kill the existing queen, they leave, often dividing the hive and creating a new one."

I may have to rethink my swarm control.  Obviously I've totally misunderstood what is going on. ;)