SENATE RESOLUTION 57

(By Senators Unger, Stollings, Hamilton, Jeffries, Cline, Rucker, and Prezioso)

[Introduced February 27, 2020]

Designating February 28, 2020, as Honeybee and Beekeeper’s Day at the Capitol.

Whereas, Apis mellifera, the honeybee, is West Virginia’s official state insect; and

Whereas, The honeybee is the insect whose activity produces more benefit to West Virginia’s economy than every other insect; and

Whereas, A single worker bee may visit up to 2,000 flowers per day, gathering nectar and pollen, and produces about 1/12 teaspoon of honey during a season; and

Whereas, A colony of honeybees can contain up to 60,000 bees; and

Whereas, An apiary consists of a collection of colonies or beehives maintained to produce honey; and

Whereas, The number of apiaries owned by registered beekeepers in West Virginia is 1,900; and

Whereas, The number of honeybee colonies registered in West Virginia is 15,000; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby designates February 28, 2020, as Honeybee and Beekeeper’s Day at the Capitol; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia Beekeeper’s Association.