UNION COUNTY BEEKEEPERS TEST
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Why do bees sting? ANSW✅✅Defensive Mechanism
What happens to the honey bee once it has stung? ANSW✅✅The barbed stinger is pulled
from its body and the bee dies.
What should one do if stung in the bee yard? ANSW✅✅STAY CALM
How do you remove a stinger? ANSW✅✅Scraping motion
What reactions to a bee sting are normal? ANSW✅✅Swelling, redness, and itching are normal
reactions to the venom of a bee sting
What should be done in response to a normal reaction? ANSW✅✅Apply cold compress, take
antihistamine (Benadryl), and antihistamine cream.
What reactions to a bee sting are life threatening? ANSW✅✅Difficulty breathing, high heartbeat,
losing consciousness, etc.
What should be done in response to a serious life-threatening reaction? ANSW✅✅CALL 911 and
use Epipen
What beekeeper behaviors should be avoided? ANSW✅✅a. Avoid using scents or perfumes
b. DO NOT eat bananas or garlic before visiting bees
c. No fast movements
d. Avoid loud noises and jarring movements
e. Avoid spilling sugar water or honey
f. DO NOT swat at bees
,What are some considerations when deciding where to place a bee yard? ANSW✅✅a. Dappled
Sunlight
b. Good drainage
c. Water source
d. Easy Access
e. Have a good swarm area (low tree line)
Which direction should the hive opening face? Why? ANSW✅✅a. Facing South/ Southeast
b. When the sun comes up it will hit the front entrance and wake up the bees early to get started
with their daily jobs.
What are some unfavorable conditions to consider when placing a bee yard? ANSW✅✅a.
Prevailing Winds
b. Away from traffic that would interfere with flight path
c. Avoid over hanging branches
d. Weed control/ Mowing
How might a beekeeper overcome unfavorable conditions? ANSW✅✅a. Windbreak (Evergreen
Hedge)
How to register your apiary? ANSW✅✅https://beecheck.org
What laws exist regarding keeping bees where you intend to place your apiary? ANSW✅✅a. NC
Bee and Honey Act of 1977
i. No county can affect any ordinance that prohibits you from owning 5 or fewer hives.
ii. City
1. Permit up to 5 hives on a single parcel
2. Require hive to be placed at ground level or securely
anchored
3. May include regulation of placement of hive
4. May require removal of hive if owner no longer maintains hive
, b. Good Neighbor Practice
i. Check with HOA, county, and municipality regulations
ii. Start with animal control or city manage
What are the different types of beehives? ANSW✅✅a. Langstroth Hive
b. Top Bar Hive
c. Warre Hive
d. Observation Hive
e. Flow Hive
What components are there in a modern hive? What is the purpose of each piece being considered
for use? ANSW✅✅a. Hive Stand - slight incline towards the front to reduce accumulation of
water.
b. Landing Board
c. Bottom Boards - Screened with IPM board or Solid
d. Entrance Reducer - Restrict opening of beehive.
e. Boxes - assembled, unassembled, painted, or unpainted
i. Deep "Brood" Box - 9 5/8th inch
ii. Medium Super - 6 5/8th inch
iii. Shallow Super - 5 11/16th inch
f. Frames - assembled or unassembled
i. Deep Frame - 9 1/8th inch
ii. Medium Frame - 6 1/4th inch
iii. Shallow Frame - 5 3/8th inch
g. Foundation - beeswax, plastic, coated, uncoated, drone, crimp wire, no wire, thin, cut comb.
h. Queen Excluder - prevents larger size Queen from passing through
i. Feeders - top feeder, boardman feeder, frame feeder, pail feeder
j. Inner cover- screened or solid
k. Telescoping Top - Standard or Garden Hive
What standard protective clothing might a beekeeper use? ANSW✅✅a. Hat
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Why do bees sting? ANSW✅✅Defensive Mechanism
What happens to the honey bee once it has stung? ANSW✅✅The barbed stinger is pulled
from its body and the bee dies.
What should one do if stung in the bee yard? ANSW✅✅STAY CALM
How do you remove a stinger? ANSW✅✅Scraping motion
What reactions to a bee sting are normal? ANSW✅✅Swelling, redness, and itching are normal
reactions to the venom of a bee sting
What should be done in response to a normal reaction? ANSW✅✅Apply cold compress, take
antihistamine (Benadryl), and antihistamine cream.
What reactions to a bee sting are life threatening? ANSW✅✅Difficulty breathing, high heartbeat,
losing consciousness, etc.
What should be done in response to a serious life-threatening reaction? ANSW✅✅CALL 911 and
use Epipen
What beekeeper behaviors should be avoided? ANSW✅✅a. Avoid using scents or perfumes
b. DO NOT eat bananas or garlic before visiting bees
c. No fast movements
d. Avoid loud noises and jarring movements
e. Avoid spilling sugar water or honey
f. DO NOT swat at bees
,What are some considerations when deciding where to place a bee yard? ANSW✅✅a. Dappled
Sunlight
b. Good drainage
c. Water source
d. Easy Access
e. Have a good swarm area (low tree line)
Which direction should the hive opening face? Why? ANSW✅✅a. Facing South/ Southeast
b. When the sun comes up it will hit the front entrance and wake up the bees early to get started
with their daily jobs.
What are some unfavorable conditions to consider when placing a bee yard? ANSW✅✅a.
Prevailing Winds
b. Away from traffic that would interfere with flight path
c. Avoid over hanging branches
d. Weed control/ Mowing
How might a beekeeper overcome unfavorable conditions? ANSW✅✅a. Windbreak (Evergreen
Hedge)
How to register your apiary? ANSW✅✅https://beecheck.org
What laws exist regarding keeping bees where you intend to place your apiary? ANSW✅✅a. NC
Bee and Honey Act of 1977
i. No county can affect any ordinance that prohibits you from owning 5 or fewer hives.
ii. City
1. Permit up to 5 hives on a single parcel
2. Require hive to be placed at ground level or securely
anchored
3. May include regulation of placement of hive
4. May require removal of hive if owner no longer maintains hive
, b. Good Neighbor Practice
i. Check with HOA, county, and municipality regulations
ii. Start with animal control or city manage
What are the different types of beehives? ANSW✅✅a. Langstroth Hive
b. Top Bar Hive
c. Warre Hive
d. Observation Hive
e. Flow Hive
What components are there in a modern hive? What is the purpose of each piece being considered
for use? ANSW✅✅a. Hive Stand - slight incline towards the front to reduce accumulation of
water.
b. Landing Board
c. Bottom Boards - Screened with IPM board or Solid
d. Entrance Reducer - Restrict opening of beehive.
e. Boxes - assembled, unassembled, painted, or unpainted
i. Deep "Brood" Box - 9 5/8th inch
ii. Medium Super - 6 5/8th inch
iii. Shallow Super - 5 11/16th inch
f. Frames - assembled or unassembled
i. Deep Frame - 9 1/8th inch
ii. Medium Frame - 6 1/4th inch
iii. Shallow Frame - 5 3/8th inch
g. Foundation - beeswax, plastic, coated, uncoated, drone, crimp wire, no wire, thin, cut comb.
h. Queen Excluder - prevents larger size Queen from passing through
i. Feeders - top feeder, boardman feeder, frame feeder, pail feeder
j. Inner cover- screened or solid
k. Telescoping Top - Standard or Garden Hive
What standard protective clothing might a beekeeper use? ANSW✅✅a. Hat
