Blooming with Bobbi: Bee v. Wasp

This article is written by Bobbi Storrs, Pinehurst's Horticulturalist or "Queen Bee". She will now be contributing to the blog about topics in flowers, landscaping and bees. Ever since we moved a bee hive on the golf course last summer she has embraced this integral part of the environment and has been learning so much more about a Bee's Life.

Is that a bee or a wasp you see?

Spring is right around the corner. Do you know how to tell the difference between a bee and a wasp?

Bees have a hairy body so pollen can stick to it, while a wasp’s body is smooth.  A bee can only sting you one time. Their stinger has a barb on the end and is detached from their body once it enters the skin. A wasp’s stinger is smooth so they can sting you over and over.  Bees feed on pollen and nectar, as wasps are carnivores that feed on parasites and other insects.  A bee will usually bounce off of you and continue about their business. A wasp hovers and will bother you again and again. 

With 81 different species of bees in the United States, they are the top pollinator of over 100 different crops.  They are one of the most important and vital part of our ecosystem.  Without them, food production as we know it would not exist.

My newest adventure is becoming a bee keeper. I have been part of a mentor program for the last 9 months and have already learned so much about these beautiful creatures.   We already have 4 natural hives on the golf course, and this year I will introduce 3 more man made hives.  My goal is that by having more bees on the property they will continue to provide us with not only beautiful flowers, fresh herbs, and organic produce but eventually pure raw honey.   Bees have a five mile radius work zone from the main hive, so not only will they work on the golf course, but will venture out into the neighborhoods around Pinehurst.

The new hives will be placed in "out of play" areas that you as a member will most likely never be around.  Bees are only aggressive when they feel threatened, so should you happen to find your ball around one of the hives, casually pick it up and move along.  If you don’t bother them, they will not bother you.  They have one goal in life and that is to pollinate and produce honey, let’s let them do their job.