Virtual Program

In this program, we will discuss how to distinguish bees from wasps and hornets and what makes the honey bee special among all the other bees.  We will then look at the lifecycle and “career” of the different castes of honey bee.  Following that, we will talk about the unique ways that honey bees communicate and honey bees’ role in pollination and food production. Finally, we will look at the major contributors to the decline in honey bee and other pollinator populations, and what each of us can do to help the bees and other pollinators. 

About the presenter:  Jack McMichael calls himself an “Accidental Beekeeper”.  He has been keeping bees for 11 years and currently manages several bee hives in three separate locations in Chester and Delaware Counties.  Although he retired in 2015 after two successful careers in the corporate world, Jack likes to point out that he spends his days overseeing the work of several hundred thousand production workers - those, of course, being his honey bees.

The Chester County Beekeepers Association (CCBA) was formed in 1947 by a group of a dozen local beekeepers, and has been in continuous operation since that time.  There are currently over 500 CCBA members and while the vast majority live in the tri-state area, there are members from eight states plus the District of Columbia.

Jack joined the Chester County Beekeepers Association in 2011 and became its Treasurer in 2015.  He has been a member of their Board of Directors since 2018, and also serves as its Membership Director and Speaker Coordinator. 

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This presentation will be held online via Zoom.  Register and receive program link by entering your information below.  Any questions? Contact DeAnne O'Brien at dobrien@ivpl.org.