How do you get the honey from the hive? Now that you have your full supers waiting, you will need to remove the wax caps on the combs. As each cell in the honeycomb is filled, the bees seal it with beeswax. These cappings must be removed to extract the honey inside the comb. This is done by using long heated knives. Slice off the cappings and let them drop into a pot or kettle. A lot of honey will drain from the cappings, and the wax is a valuable by-product.

The color and flavor of honeys differ depending on the nectar source (the blossoms) visited by the honey bees. In fact, there are more than 300 unique types of honey available in the United States, each originating from a different floral source. Honey color ranges from nearly colorless to dark brown, and its flavor varies from delectably mild to distinctively bold, depending on where the honey bees buzzed. As a general rule, light-colored honey is milder in taste and dark-colored honey is stronger.

US beekeepers have been stung in recent months by the mysterious disappearance of millions of bees threatening honey supplies as well as crops which depend on the insects for pollination. It is normal for hives to see populations fall by some 20 percent during the winter, but the sharp loss of bees is causing concern, especially as domestic US bee colonies have been steadily decreasing since 1980.

Honey Bee Man explains how to avoid an attack of stinging insects. Or how to get away if you are attacked. Did you know you can outsmart the bees? Can you jump in a lake to get away from a bee attack? listen and learn more. TenMinuteLessons.com