How Many Bees Come In A Package?

This is a question that is asked quite often at Mountain Sweet Honey!  When you purchase a package of bees you know that you are receiving 3 pounds of honey bees but how many honey bees is it?  Ray Civitts discusses how bees are measured in the field while the package is being filled.  One inch of bees spread evenly on the bottom of the cage equals approx. 3,333 honey bees.  To calculate: 3,333 x 3 lbs = 10,000 honey bees!