Beekeeping in the desert may seem like an impossible venture. There is more than meets the eye.
Well, it's not impossible. Kinda sort of not. It can actually be an enjoyable, challenging, and rewarding hobby. The desert climate can be crazy, but with planning and luck, it is possible to establish and maintain thriving bee colonies.
The desert climate seems to hate us all (usually)
One of the main issues with beekeeping in the desert is constant temperature fluctuations. I'm not kidding, the mercury can jump all over the thermometer.
Bees enjoy a specific temperature range, and outside of that range, they usually struggle to regulate their body temperature. This can cause major stress for them.
In the desert, the days can be unbearably hot and the nights can get freezing cold, making it hard for bees to maintain a comfortable temperature. We deal with the same thing, and it is rough for us too.
To deal with this, you must choose a location for your bees that is safe from the sun and wind.
In Arizona, we can get wind gusts of 60 mph. In summer, the sun beats down on the desert all day, frying everyone and everything.
Choose a location close to a Joshua Tree that can provide some shade for your bees. However, we use insulated foam boards on top of the beehives. They are great for both shading and insulating the hives. Browse Apimaye Beehives and Products Here.
The wind is dealt with by ratchet strapping the beehives down to concrete blocks.
We also add a brick on top for added weight. Those hives won't move an inch this way. If left unstrapped, you will more than likely find your beehives on the ground and beaten up. We know this sad reality firsthand when we first brought up a bee removal hive here. Unbelievably, they were fine and didn't abandon the box!
Another challenge with desert beekeeping is the lack of water.
Bees need access to water in order to produce honey and maintain their hive. In the desert, water is usually pretty scarce. By usually we mean almost always.
To provide your bees with the water they need, we set up water tubes, solar water fountains near the hives, and a small ten-gallon "pond". The water sources must be shallow and contain rocks and sticks so the bees don't drown.
Bees are the absolute worst swimmers on the planet, they need rocks and sticks to help them get out of the water when they fall in. THEY WILL FALL IN OVER AND OVER!
It's usually best to provide the bees a water fountain without a snake in it.
However, this whiptail snake believes this is HIS fountain because he found it first. Some animals can be so greedy and won't share with others. He knows better as this is not what we teach at the Joshua Tree Preserve.
Despite these challenges, beekeeping in the desert can be an amazingly great experience.
The dry and arid climate of the desert can produce fine-quality honey that is not found in other areas of the USA. Many people prize desert honey because it is unique and let's face it, not the easiest honey to produce.
The bees play an important role in pollinating all of our beautiful desert plants, shrubs, trees, and flowers. It just wouldn't be the same without them here.
Betsy and Pete
Las Vegas, Nevada
About Us: The Authors
We're Betsy and Pete, passionate Las Vegas beekeepers trained by a master in the field. With hundreds of successful bee and bee swarm removals under our belts, we're not just experts; we're enthusiasts committed to the well-being of these incredible pollinators.
We manage dozens of beehives, both natural and honey-bearing at our Joshua Tree Preserve.
Our Commitment to Excellence
Education is an ongoing journey, especially in a dynamic field such as beekeeping. That's why we continually update our knowledge base, collaborate with other experts, and stay up to date with the latest advancements in bee control methods and beekeeping practices.
We also provide top-tier beekeeping supplies, offering everything a beekeeper needs, from beginners to experts.
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