Interesting Uses for Cork #4

Here is another interesting use for cork - the bee and honey industry.

Cork and the Queen Bee:
When a queen bee is to be introduced to a hive of bees, it needs to be done carefully. The queen bee is foreign to the other bees and could be seen as an intruder to the hive if she is not introduced slowly. To do this, the queen bee is kept in her own cage, known as the queen cage. One side of the queen cage is closed with a cork. The other side is sealed with bee candy and sometimes another cork. The cork on the side with the bee candy is removed and the queen cage is inserted within the frames of the hive. The other cork is left in place to keep the queen from escaping. In a couple of days, the worker bees will have eaten through the bee candy and released the queen bee into the hive.

Cork and Observation Hives:
Sometimes bee keepers want to keep the bees out of the observation hive. This can be done by using tapered cork stoppers to plug the passage of bees into or out of the observation hive.

Cork and Honey:
There are many ways to package and sell honey. One method that is both natural, functional and decorative is to use a natural cork stopper. Being all-natural, cork works and looks great in the container.

Note: I am not a bee keeper however I love honey!