TODAY IS WORLD BEE DAY!
What does that mean, you ask?
Well, bees play a significant role in pollinating native plants in our Australian ecosystem.
It falls on May 20th in acknowledgment of Anton Janša (1734–1773), a Slovenian beekeeper and pioneer of modern beekeeping. Anton remains one of the greatest authorities on the subject of bees. Also, this time of year in Australia signifies harvest time for hive products like beeswax, honey and bee pollen.
SO WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?
World Bee Day aims to raise awareness of the crucial role bees play in pollination, food security and the wellbeing of the global ecosystem.
OUR BEESWAX IS THE BEES KNEES
Our beeswax comes from Olley’s Organic Honey Farm located in the rural Queensland town of Clifton, near Toowoomba. Beekeeper Ken Olley has been working in the business since the 1950s after taking over from his father, who founded it in 1907. Ken has an impressive 3000-4000 bee colonies on his property. He used to move the bees via train, but now they are transported in huge trucks!
Ken has won several awards for his industry-based inventions, such as the Split Boom Loader, the Uncapping Machine, as well as a bee medicine/supplementary bee nutrition formula. His beeswax is Australian Certified Organic - free from pesticides, antibiotics and other nasties. 
Ken's hives at Olley's Organic Bee Farm in Clifton, Queensland.
BEESWAX BENEFITS
Beeswax has been extracted and used for centuries in skin, dental and wound care.
Similar to honey, beeswax is considered effective in the treatment of bruising, inflammation and burns (Gupta et al. 2023). Beeswax lubricates and softens the skin and decreases trans-epidermal water loss.
The compounds of Squalene, 10-hydroxy-trans-2- decenoic acid, and flavonoids (chrysin) included in beeswax give this product antibacterial characteristics and protect the skin from harmful microbes.
Beeswax contains -carotene, a good source of vitamin A, which slows collagen breakdown, accelerates mitotic division in the epidermis, and protects the skin from a variety of external influences by producing a film on the surface. This results in faster skin regeneration following injury [20]. (Gupta et al. 2023).
Honeycomb in the hives, ready for harvesting...
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There are over 1500 different species of native Australian bees, some of which are as tiny as 2mm with the largest being around 24mm.
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It is estimated that bees must collectively visit around 2 million flowers and travel the equivalent of twice around the world to gather enough nectar to make just 1 pound (454 grams) of honey.
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An adult bee only lives for about six weeks. In its short lifetime it will produce just 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey. This is because honey production is not a bees sole task, younger bees are responsible for caring for larvae.
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A healthy bee colony in the tens of thousands can produce an excess of 45 kgs of honey per year.
SAVE THE BEES, SECURE OUR FUTURE
Bee decline and colony collapse has become a global issue that threatens bee biodiversity and food security. Without bees, the availability of fresh produce would decline substantially, which would eradicate many species, hike food costs and create global food shortages. Three of four crops across the globe rely on bee pollination to produce fruits, vegetables or seed for human consumption.WHY ARE THEY THREATENED?
4 reasons bees and other pollinators are under threat worldwide are:
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Bee diseases and pests, such as the Varroa mite and other bee diseases are threatening colony health
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Habitat destruction from urban encroachment and clear fell logging practices has contributed to a loss of access to nesting sites and nectar and pollen resources for commercial beekeepers to maintain business viability.
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Production constraints from Government policies that have minimised beekeeper access to public lands have also led to a decline in commercial beekeeping.
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The use of agricultural chemicals has affected bee health and numbers
HOW YOU CAN HELP US SAVE THE BEES!
Reorder today on World Bee Day and MWax will donate 50% of all profits to bee conservation and research! MWax will be donating 50% of all profits from orders placed on May 20 to Wheen Bee Foundation to support the research and conservation activities that address the national and global threats to bees.
Order now or donate to Wheen Bee Foundation yourself by heading here.
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