Janice M. Clymer, Macungie resident and ESL teacher for EPSD, spoke to the Emmaus Rotary on Thursday, July 25, 2019, both about the life and work of honey bees and the 20 plus hives she and her husband Terry Clymer maintain locally. She noted the Queen bee only has a life span of 3 to 4-years and her sole job is to lay fertilized eggs, hundreds a day. She has a protective court of a dozen warrior bees. Drones mate with the Queen- once and done. All the work falls to female Worker bees who collect nectar for honey, protect and clean the hive, and care for baby bees.
President-elect Shallcross noted in her introduction that July 9, 2019, the Royal Geographical Society of London declared bees are the most important beings on this planet. But they have joined the endangered species list. Was Albert Einstein correct when he said: "that if the bees disappear, humans would have 4 years to live"?
Clymer answered a question about swarming bees and said to please call a beekeeper and not an exterminator as during this temporary period they are very docile and just going to a new/second hive as the first was successfully outgrown. Honey bees pollinate our fruits, vegetables, and flowers. She noted the nutritional, medicinal and cosmetic value of honey which has been a staple for humans since the Stone Age. Honey does not go bad and can be stored for decades. She and her husband sell their local honey and combs of honey and wax. Brookside Apiaries, Macungie, PA 484-358-6093