Click image to zoom

Beekeepers In Mexico Prepare For World Bee Day

Influenced by her mother and father and by chance upon seeing a beehive, Martha Flores Garcia, originally from Xochimilco, decides to become a beekeeper. She works with hives and bees for about 20 years in her apiary between the borders of Mexico City and the State of Morelos. Through the breeding and care of the bees, and once they complete the process, which lasts about three weeks to a month, wearing a mask, gloves, overalls, and a smoker with pine cone, Martha collects honey, jelly, and wax to make and obtain various products such as propolis, pollen, cosmetics, essences, nutritional supplements, chocolates, candies, among others. Approximately 60,000 bees live in each hive and/or breeding chamber. According to the National Atlas of Bees and Derivatives, the word ''bee'' is the common name for insects belonging to the superfamily Apoidea of the order Hymenoptera (membrane-winged). Currently, there are more than 20,000 species of bees worldwide, classified into nine families, six of which are present in Mexico, with more than 1,800 described species. To raise awareness about the importance of pollinators, the threats they face, and their contribution to sustainable development, the United Nations declares May 20th as World Bee Day. The main objective is to protect bees and other pollinators so they can make a significant contribution to solving problems related to the world's food supply and ending hunger in developing countries. (Photo by Gerardo Vieyra/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Related Keywords