Meet the Bees

Hercubees started as a small two hive apiary in Blacksburg, Virginia.

We started with two local nucs (beekeeper shorthand for nucleus colonies, or essentially very small colonies) of two different breeds – one Italian colony and one Carniolan colony. They both survived their first winter and two hives quickly became 12. These bees were well adapted to their home in the foothills of the Appalachians.

Hercubees moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA in 2022.

We moved 8 hives from Virginia to Pennsylvania in September of 2022. Though they were well adapted to the climate in Virginia, the winter in Pennsylvania was very different, and only 3 colonies survived. These colonies, coupled with swarms in the community, grew to the 20 colony apiary we now maintain.

Hercubees maintains 15-25 hives in Delaware and Chester counties in Pennsylvania.

As a small, hobby beekeeper and a veterinarian, the health and well-being of the honeybees is our utmost priority. Though we enjoy the honey and beeswax that the bees produce, we ensure that our bees have enough stored to make sure they survive the cold winters.

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