What’s the one driving motivation of honey bees?

Food.

So shared Connor White, featured speaker at the Lunch and Learn event hosted by The Wood County Master Gardeners at the First Assembly of God Church Annex in Quitman on Thursday, April 23. His presentation focused on the role of honey bees in agriculture, beekeeping practices, and current local education efforts.

White, who serves as postmaster in Grand Saline, gave an overview of commercial and small-scale beekeeping. He began beekeeping after an injury prevented him from playing golf. What started as one handmade hive expanded into an operation of 100 to 150 hives located from Grand Saline to Rockwall.

His work now includes hive removals, agricultural tax leases and pollination contracts.

White said bees are transported seasonally for crop pollination, including to California for almond production in December and January. The primary function of bees, White said, is food collection. Bees consume pollen, honey and water, and pollination occurs as a byproduct of foraging activity.

Worker bees live approximately 42 days. For about four weeks, they remain inside the hive performing tasks such as brood care, comb building and colony maintenance. The final two weeks are spent foraging. During that period, a bee may fly up to 3,000 miles. Each bee produces about one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.

A colony typically contains 40,000 to 60,000 bees, with only about 10 percent visible outside the hive at any given time. Roles within the hive are divided into three groups: queen, workers and drones. The queen’s function is egg production, laying an average of 2,000 eggs per day. She determines whether an egg will be male or female. Worker bees are female and perform all labor, including defense. Drones are male and exist for reproduction.

Queen bees can live two to three years. Worker bees live weeks. Queen development is determined by diet, specifically royal jelly, a substance produced by the nurse bees from glands in their heads; while all eggs and larvae are fed some, those set aside to become queens are given a significantly greater amount, White said. Worker larvae are switched to a different diet, bee bread, which is a mixture of pollen and nectar.

White also discussed production and economics. Honey yields vary. In one example, 80 hives produced two 55-gallon drums. A five-gallon bucket of honey weighs approximately 60 pounds. Commercial honey may sell for around $2.10 per pound in bulk, compared to higher retail pricing. However, White noted that increasing hive numbers is often a higher priority than honey production.

Pollination services are a major component of the industry. Bees are placed on crops such as clover, canola, sesame, cranberries and alfalfa to increase seed production. These crops rely on pollination to produce viable seed yields.

Swarming behavior was also addressed. Swarming is the natural method of colony reproduction. A portion of the hive leaves with the existing queen, while the remaining bees raise a new queen. Scout bees identify new locations and communicate through movement patterns commonly referred to as the “waggle dance.”

White described removal work, including swarms located on structures and equipment. He also noted the presence of Africanized honey bees in Texas. These bees are more defensive and aggressive due to genetic traits and are more common in southern and western regions of the state.

For more information on White’s bee removal services, including hives, swarms, and established colonies, call 903-360-2253. Swarms are usually not aggressive because they are not defending a hive, but people should still keep their distance and call a beekeeper.

Wood County Master Gardeners Association Vice President Lynette Wallace praised White’s presentation afterward.

“Connor White’s passion for beekeeping shines through every word he shares,” Wallace said. “His knowledge about protecting our local bee populations is impressive, and he has a knack for making even complex topics feel approachable and important to folks in our community.”

To help bees without keeping bees, you can:

• Plant native flowering plants that bloom across season;

• Avoid spraying pesticides during daylight hours;

• Provide a shallow water source (dish with rocks); and

• Let some areas grow naturally with less mowing.

Roughly one in three bites of food depends on pollinators, according to the USDA.

“One of my favorite Lunch and Learn talks was about planting a pollinator garden,” Wallace said. “The speaker made it simple to understand, and I was able to take what I learned and create a beautiful, bee-friendly spot in my own yard. It’s always nice to see more butterflies and bees buzzing around, knowing I helped make that happen.”

Wood County Master Gardeners

Following the presentation, Hilary Grider-Henk, Wood County Extension Agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, provided more context on local education and outreach.

“I felt that key takeaways today for participants were the reminders that the bee’s lifespan is only 42 days, in which the primary goal is to eat as much as they can,” Grider-Henk said. “We often jump to the result that their foraging results in pollination of plants or honey production; they are wonderful results, but this was a gentle reminder that their purpose is to collect food for their hive first and foremost.”

She said interest in beekeeping is increasing locally.

“We do see a growing interest in beekeeping in Wood County as well as overall awareness of the need for bees for our crops, vegetables, and flowers to thrive,” Grider-Henk said.

Through regional research efforts, AgriLife collects monthly hive samples to monitor health and production.

Grider-Henk said individuals interested in beekeeping can contact the Extension office for resources, guidance and connections, including information related to agricultural tax considerations. She can be reached at 903-763-2924, at 618 S. Main St. in Quitman, or by e-mail at hilary.grider@ag.tamu.edu or wcmgatx@gmail.com.

She also explained the structure behind the Master Gardeners program.

“Master Gardeners is administered through Texas A&M AgriLife,” Grider-Henk said. “Members must apply, complete a course, and obtain community service and continuing education hours related to gardening before becoming a full member.”

Wood County has 70 certified Master Gardeners and 19 interns. Volunteers support community projects, educational programs and outreach efforts.

“All programs done by Master Gardeners are approved through our office, as they are an extension of our educational outreach,” Grider-Henk said.

The Lunch and Learn series is one of those outreach efforts, providing ongoing education on horticulture, agriculture and related topics.

“They have seven community project groups that they maintain in addition to events like today’s Lunch and Learn,” Grider-Henk said. “They do outreach to all ages and will next week teach third-graders from all over Wood County at the Arboretum about plants and insects, and annually host a large-scale, one-day education day in addition to aiding our office in outreach and education to both young and adults.”

Wallace said she most appreciates the education and fellowship that comes with the Lunch and Learn series.

“The Lunch and Learn series is a real treat for anyone who loves to dig in the soil,” Wallace said. “These sessions bring together neighbors, whether you’ve gardened for years or are just starting, and offer straightforward, research-based advice to tackle everyday gardening problems we run into around town.”

The Wood County Master Gardeners program started in 2003, contributing annually over 5,000 hours of volunteering with an estimated in-kind service value of over $160,000.

“We’re local gardeners, just like you, who share a love for everything from cheerful flower beds to backyard veggie patches,” Wallace said. “Our goal is to help neighbors learn more about gardening, whether you’re interested in native plants, colorful roses, organic methods, or just getting the best tomatoes on the block. We’re always eager to welcome new friends who want to join us in making Wood County even greener and more beautiful.”

For more information on Wood County Master Gardeners, including upcoming events, visit txmg.org/woodcounty.

The May Lunch and Learn event is entitled “Return of the Garden Guardians.” Local entomologists will share methods of destruction for hurtful bugs and ways to attract helpful bugs. The event is free, and you are invited to “bring your own lunch.” The event will be held Thursday, May 28, 12-1 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church Annex, 909 East Goode St., in Quitman.