Beekeeping (or
apiculture, from "
bee") is the maintenance of
honey bee colonies, commonly in
hives, by humans. A
beekeeper (or apiarist) keeps bees in order to collect their
honey and other products that the hive produces (including
beeswax,
propolis,
pollen, and
royal jelly), to
pollinate crops, or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers. A location where bees are kept is called an
apiary or "bee yard".