Union County Beekeepers Test| Updated RATED A+ |
New 2026
How long has the NCSBA been in existence?
NCSBA founded on January 11, 1917
Which is the largest state beekeeper's associa%on in the USA?
NCSBA
The NCSBA is a resource for informa%on and camaraderie that will benefit both your
beekeeping experience and exper%se.
That was just a random piece of informa%on
It offers many programs that encourage your involvement, enjoyment, and
con%nued educa%on.
That was just a random piece of informa%on
What are the various programs and opportuni%es supported by NCSBA?
a. They include the NC Zoo, NC State Fair, NCSBA Master Beekeeper
Program, Golden Achievement Program, Cer%fied Honey Producer
Program, annual judged contests for hive products and more.
What is the difference between a hobbyist beekeeper, a sideliner; and a commercial opera%on?
a. Hobbyist - Interest, ecology, and recrea%on (10 hives or fewer)
b. Sideliner - Not primary income, but ac%vely markets bee products (tens to low hundreds of
hives)
c. Commercial - Bees as a primary business, pollina%on, or commercial produc%on of bee
products and bees (200+ hives, or moves bees across State lines)
What do commercial opera%ons do throughout the year?
Pollina%on and commercial produc%on of bee products and bees
How long has man been harves%ng honey (and other products) from honeybees?
An%quity (9000 BC)
When did honey bees arrive in the Americas?
1621
,What are some of the various ways that they kept bees?
Bee gums and skeps
Who is Rev. L.L. Langstroth and what is he most known for?
Iden%fied 'bee space' and developed moveable frame hives
What is Bee Space?
3⁄8" wide between the frames
Who is A. I. Root?
Involved in forming NCSBA
Who is Charles Dadant?
Wrote "First lessons in Beekeeping"
What inven%ons have modernized beekeeping?
Langstroth Hive, Wax Founda%on and Frames, & Smoker
What major events occurred in the US that regulated or changed methods of beekeeping?
a. 1922 Honey Bee Act passed by Congress (Restricts importa%on of honey
bees into the US)
b. 1967 Buckfast Bees introduced to US (Italian/German stabilized hybrid,
resists tracheal mites)
c. 1984 Tracheal mites appear in the US
d. 1985 & 1990 Africanized honey bees migrate to US (Originated from
Brazil)
e. 1987 Varroa mites show up in the US
f. 1996 Small hive beetles (SHB) found in US
g. 1997 Russian honey bees introduced to US (Improved na%ve resistance to
varroa mites)
h. 2004 Israeli Acute Paralysis introduced to US
i. 2006 Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) iden%fied
What major events occurred in N.C. that regulated or changed methods of beekeeping?
a. 1973 The honey Bee was named the NC Official Insect
b. 1977 NC Bee and Honey Act
What is the primary importance of the honey bee?
, Pollina%on
What list of products is obtained from a bee hive?
a. Beeswax, honey, pollen, royal jelly, and venom
What are those products used for?
a. Cosme%cs, medicinally, and cooking
What are the various types of bees throughout the world?
Western Honeybee, Bumble bees, Squash bees, Blueberry bees, Leaf CuLer bee, Mason bee,
and Carpenter bees
What are the races of bees that are kept and what are their characteris%cs?
(Supplemental Educa%on Handout Top of Page 2)
a. German - (First honey bee to North America, not kept any longer)
b. Italian - (Most widely kept in the US, very good honey makers)
c. Carniolan - (Calm, early foragers, very good honey makers, tracheal mite
resistant)
d. Caucasian - (Calm, good honey makers, propolis stores)
e. Hybrids - (hygienic behavior, honey produc%on, aggressiveness)
What makes an Africanized Bee different from the European (or "western") honey bee?
More likely to swarm or abscond and aggressive
What threats or difficul%es do Africanized bees pose to the USA and NC?
Dangerous, defensive, and aggressive
What can be done about Africanized honey bees? (NC response)
a. Contact State Inspector if a hive is unusually aggressive
b. Acquire queens through the NCSBA 'Born-N-Bred' program
c. Uncer%fied bees from out of state must be inspected
d. All Africanized bees should be destroyed - eliminate gene%cs
What is pollina%on? Be generally familiar with parts of a flower.
Pollina%on is the act of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female
s%gma; it is necessary for plants to reproduce by fruits, seeds, nuts etc.
How do bees differ from other insects in rela%on to pollina%on capabili%es?
New 2026
How long has the NCSBA been in existence?
NCSBA founded on January 11, 1917
Which is the largest state beekeeper's associa%on in the USA?
NCSBA
The NCSBA is a resource for informa%on and camaraderie that will benefit both your
beekeeping experience and exper%se.
That was just a random piece of informa%on
It offers many programs that encourage your involvement, enjoyment, and
con%nued educa%on.
That was just a random piece of informa%on
What are the various programs and opportuni%es supported by NCSBA?
a. They include the NC Zoo, NC State Fair, NCSBA Master Beekeeper
Program, Golden Achievement Program, Cer%fied Honey Producer
Program, annual judged contests for hive products and more.
What is the difference between a hobbyist beekeeper, a sideliner; and a commercial opera%on?
a. Hobbyist - Interest, ecology, and recrea%on (10 hives or fewer)
b. Sideliner - Not primary income, but ac%vely markets bee products (tens to low hundreds of
hives)
c. Commercial - Bees as a primary business, pollina%on, or commercial produc%on of bee
products and bees (200+ hives, or moves bees across State lines)
What do commercial opera%ons do throughout the year?
Pollina%on and commercial produc%on of bee products and bees
How long has man been harves%ng honey (and other products) from honeybees?
An%quity (9000 BC)
When did honey bees arrive in the Americas?
1621
,What are some of the various ways that they kept bees?
Bee gums and skeps
Who is Rev. L.L. Langstroth and what is he most known for?
Iden%fied 'bee space' and developed moveable frame hives
What is Bee Space?
3⁄8" wide between the frames
Who is A. I. Root?
Involved in forming NCSBA
Who is Charles Dadant?
Wrote "First lessons in Beekeeping"
What inven%ons have modernized beekeeping?
Langstroth Hive, Wax Founda%on and Frames, & Smoker
What major events occurred in the US that regulated or changed methods of beekeeping?
a. 1922 Honey Bee Act passed by Congress (Restricts importa%on of honey
bees into the US)
b. 1967 Buckfast Bees introduced to US (Italian/German stabilized hybrid,
resists tracheal mites)
c. 1984 Tracheal mites appear in the US
d. 1985 & 1990 Africanized honey bees migrate to US (Originated from
Brazil)
e. 1987 Varroa mites show up in the US
f. 1996 Small hive beetles (SHB) found in US
g. 1997 Russian honey bees introduced to US (Improved na%ve resistance to
varroa mites)
h. 2004 Israeli Acute Paralysis introduced to US
i. 2006 Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) iden%fied
What major events occurred in N.C. that regulated or changed methods of beekeeping?
a. 1973 The honey Bee was named the NC Official Insect
b. 1977 NC Bee and Honey Act
What is the primary importance of the honey bee?
, Pollina%on
What list of products is obtained from a bee hive?
a. Beeswax, honey, pollen, royal jelly, and venom
What are those products used for?
a. Cosme%cs, medicinally, and cooking
What are the various types of bees throughout the world?
Western Honeybee, Bumble bees, Squash bees, Blueberry bees, Leaf CuLer bee, Mason bee,
and Carpenter bees
What are the races of bees that are kept and what are their characteris%cs?
(Supplemental Educa%on Handout Top of Page 2)
a. German - (First honey bee to North America, not kept any longer)
b. Italian - (Most widely kept in the US, very good honey makers)
c. Carniolan - (Calm, early foragers, very good honey makers, tracheal mite
resistant)
d. Caucasian - (Calm, good honey makers, propolis stores)
e. Hybrids - (hygienic behavior, honey produc%on, aggressiveness)
What makes an Africanized Bee different from the European (or "western") honey bee?
More likely to swarm or abscond and aggressive
What threats or difficul%es do Africanized bees pose to the USA and NC?
Dangerous, defensive, and aggressive
What can be done about Africanized honey bees? (NC response)
a. Contact State Inspector if a hive is unusually aggressive
b. Acquire queens through the NCSBA 'Born-N-Bred' program
c. Uncer%fied bees from out of state must be inspected
d. All Africanized bees should be destroyed - eliminate gene%cs
What is pollina%on? Be generally familiar with parts of a flower.
Pollina%on is the act of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female
s%gma; it is necessary for plants to reproduce by fruits, seeds, nuts etc.
How do bees differ from other insects in rela%on to pollina%on capabili%es?
