Beekeeper recovers 20,000 honey bees

Staff report

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A beekeeper was able to recover an estimated 20,000 honey bees from a dead tree that fell across Stewart Street.

Dennie Parsons, Hubbard Township zoning department inspector and a beekeeper, was called out to remove the bees. He said he believed a third of the bees were killed when the tree fell and honey combs collapsed.

Parsons estimated the number of bees by their weight. According to www.ask.com, a honey bee worker weighs about 90 milligrams, so there are about 300 honey bees to an ounce and 4,800 bees in a pound. He also salvaged 30 pounds of honey from the tree.

Parsons said he believes he may have recovered the queen bee. Parsons, who has been beekeeping for three years, said he placed the bees in one of his hives, noting that there are enough bees in this group to establish a new hive. Only time will tell if the queen is there, Parsons said, but if not, the hive will “create” a new queen by feeding an egg seven days of royal jelly.

Jerry Lambert, director of public services, said the tree fell over into the street at about 6 p.m. Sunday then another part of the tree fell about 10:30 p.m. The street department was called out to remove the debris from Stewart Street between Kline and Main streets. The police also were on the scene.