New York Abuzz with Bees

The New York City Police Department has reportedly noted an uptick in the
number of bee swarms scouring the five boroughs in search of a new home,
a phenomenon which experts have attributed to unusually warm weather as
well as an increase in residential apiaries. According to a June 18, 2012, New
York Times article, the department’s “unofficial beekeeper in residence” has
already handled 31 swarms since mid-March, more than twice the number
reported last season. As the Times explained, “Officer [Anthony Planakis] said the bees he had collected were wild, but some beekeepers believe they
were fleeing the poorly managed hives that have proliferated on rooftops, in
backyards and on balconies since the city lifted a decade-long ban on raising
Apis mellifera—the common, nonaggressive honeybee—in March 2010.”

With 182 hives registered with the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene and perhaps as many as 400 total, expert beekeepers have warned
newcomers that they must inspect hives every seven to 10 days to prevent
overcrowding or poor ventilation. “It’s up to beekeepers to practice swarm
prevention techniques and regular hive maintenance,” said New York City
Beekeepers Association President Andrew Coté, who has recommended
stricter regulations for hive hobbyists. “If they treated their dog or cat in the
same way, they would be taken up on charges.” Additional details about the
city’s decision to allow urban apiaries appear in Issue 342 of this Update.