Facts about a beekeepers suit, how it protects the beekeeper and what other protective gear they use. A guide to understanding beekeeping and tips on getting started. Honeybees are extremely social insects that live in hives as a colony that can contain thousands of bees. All of the bees work together to build a nest, collect food and to rear the young. Beekeepers are able to work with the natural instincts of the honey bee to gather honey that can be used or sold for profit. Removing the honey from the hive can sometimes be challenging but it is important not to leave the honey in the hive for too long. If it is left in the hive for a long time, the color of the honey will be darker and the bees will not have more room to store honey.