Honeybee Incident at Museum Leads to Re-Queening of Hive
A routine day at the Imagination Station Science and History Museum in Wilson, NC, took an unexpected turn when three people, including a young child, were stung by honeybees. The incident has prompted beekeepers to re-queen one of the hives to mitigate future risks.
1. The Incident
Around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, honeybees stung Lindsay VanHook and her 4-year-old son Elijah, as well as the museum’s executive director, Brooke Bissette Farmer. The stings occurred near the Woody Harrison Pollinator Garden, shortly after beekeepers completed a treatment for varroa mites—a common parasite affecting honeybees.
2. Immediate Response
Farmer and Greg Wolgemuth, president of the Wilson County Beekeepers Association, were wearing protective suits while tending to a bee swarm when they heard screams. Farmer quickly responded, removing her gear to assist the VanHook family, which is when she was stung.
Emergency medical services and Wilson Police Department officers swiftly arrived at the scene. The bees were captured and relocated to the Wilson County Apiary.
3. Understanding Bee Behavior
Wolgemuth explained that the agitation was likely due to the recent mite treatment. Normally, honeybees are not aggressive and do not stray far from their hives. The treatment and the presence of a swarm might have triggered their defensive behavior.
4. Steps Taken to Prevent Future Incidents
To prevent further incidents, the beekeepers plan to re-queen the hive. Re-queening involves replacing the existing queen with a new one, which can help reduce aggressive behavior in the colony. The process will take about 40 days, during which the old bees die off and are replaced by the new queen’s offspring.
5. Advice for the Public
Farmer advises that if you encounter honeybees, the best course of action is to calmly walk away and avoid swatting at them. This helps prevent provoking the bees further.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why do bees sting?
A: Bees sting as a defensive mechanism, usually when they feel threatened or if their hive is disturbed.
Q: What is re-queening and why is it done?
A: Re-queening involves replacing the old queen with a new one to reduce aggression and improve the hive’s overall behavior and productivity.
Q: How should I react if I encounter a swarm of bees?
A: Remain calm, walk away slowly, and avoid swatting at the bees. This reduces the chance of provoking them further.
Q: What is the role of honeybees in the environment?
A: Honeybees are crucial pollinators for many crops and plants, playing a vital role in agriculture and ecosystem health.
Q: What are varroa mites and how do they affect bees?
A: Varroa mites are parasites that attack honeybees, spreading viruses and weakening the colony, often leading to significant bee population declines.
Hashtags
- #HoneybeeHealth
- #PollinatorProtection
- #Beekeeping
- #BeeSafety
- #EnvironmentalAwareness
