SJ 18 — Commemorating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the European honey bee to North America.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 22104097D I SENATE OfferedJOINT JanuaryRESOLUTION 12,NO. 2022 N Prefiled January 11, 2022 Commemorating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the European honey bee to North America.

T18 ––––––––––E RCommemorating Patrons––Deeds and Hanger O –––––––––– WHEREAS, 2022 marks the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first European honey beesbee toDto CommonwealthNorth andAmerica. the United States;

andasN R Agreed to by the Senate, January 13, 2022 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 17, 2022 O WHEREAS, 2022 marks the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first European honey bees to L North America, a momentous event that has had far-reaching effects on agricultural and daily liUelife in thethL WHEREAS,ComWHEREAS, while prehistoric evidence of honey bees has been discovered in North America, the E western or European honey bee, Apis mellifera, was not known on the continent prior to the arrival of explorers and colonists from Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries;

and ED WHEREAS, honey bees were first introduced to North America by the Virginia Company of London;

several beehives departed from England in 1621 and arrived at the settlement in Jamestown in MarWHEREAS,March honey1622; bees subsequently became an essential part of farm communities and hives were found outside the homes of many early colonists;

and WHEREAS, honey bees alsosubsequently spreadbecame toan nearbyessential woodspart of farm communities and beganhives towere thrive in the region;

andandf WHEREAS,many early colonistscolonists; used honey from beehives as a sweetener and flavoring for food and for the fermentation of mead;

colonistshoney bees also usedspread beeswax to makenearby candleswoods and cosmeticsbegan andto WHEREAS, early colonists used honey from beehives as a sealant,sweetener bothand flavoring for usefood domestically and for export;S the fermentation of mead;

colonists also used beeswax to make candles and eventuallycosmetics spreadand throughoutas Northa America;sealant, 1 both for use domestically and for export;

andre transported to other English colonies and JR WHEREAS,eventually honeyspread beesthroughout areNorth nowAmerica; used to pollinate more than 80 crops and orchard trees in the 8 Commonwealth, increasing their value by more than $135 million annually;

andre transported to other English colonies and WHEREAS, honey beebees pollinationare improvesnow theused healthto andpollinate diversitymore ofthan flora80 crops and faunaorchard trees in forests,the meadows,Commonwealth, andincreasing wetlandstheir throughoutvalue theby Commonwealth;more than $135 million annually;

and WHEREAS,meadows, apiaries play a vital role in Virginia's economy, and residents,wetlands businesses,throughout schools,the andCommonwealth; agricultural production, scientific research, and environmental sustainability;

now,andand therefore,diversity beof it,flora RESOLVEDand fauna in forests, WHEREAS, apiaries play a vital role in Virginia's economy, and residents, businesses, schools, and organizations throughout the Commonwealth participate in beekeeping activities for personal enjoyment, agrRESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly herebyhereby, be it commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the European honey bee to North America;

and, be it RESOLVEDpresentation FURTHER,to That the ClerkVirginia ofState theBeekeepers SenateAssociation prepareas aan copyexpression of thisthe resolutionGeneral Assembly's appreciation for :the role the European honey bee has played in the development of agriculture in Virginia.

35 presentation to the Virginia State Beekeepers Association as an expression of the General Assembly's 37 Virginia.ion for the role the European honey bee has played in the development of agriculture in 7