Week One

Week One introduces the honey bee, Apis mellifera, and explains how its physical characteristics, classification, and highly organized social behavior influence the way a colony functions and interacts with its environment. Understanding normal honey bee biology and colony behavior helps beekeepers recognize signs that something may be wrong. This week also reviews common hive types, tools, and protective clothing, emphasizing that equipment should be selected according to the beekeeper’s physical abilities, available time, management goals, and budget.