That male bees do nothing but mate with the queen then die (all of the bees in this hive are female). Males don't gather nectar, build the hive or maintain it. The girls kick them out when it gets cold as the girls must
live off what they've gathered. No free riders!
That bees are very tidy creatures and remove all filth and dead bees from the hive. They're also 'house trained' and won't 'go' in the hive. The boy in the photo is smelling a piece of sweet smelling beeswax.
That bees have a special dance to show other bees where to find a good nectar source.
That honey bees can't reach the nectar in bees balm as the flower shape is too elongated. That sunflowers are the perfect source of nectar for bees?
When the hive becomes too crowded half the bees will 'swarm' and wait until a new home is found by scouts. If you see a swarm in your yard please don't kill them. They will be gone in several hours. If you need them gone sooner Google 'beekeepers' to find a LOCAL Guild and they'll come move the swarm to a new home.
This was one of my last programs for the library and I've become a bee lover! Maybe all the kids who saw this will remember how important bees are.
I am a bee lover also...they are amazing little creatures and the theories of why they are in decline ...should be a warning to our own survival. Happy Halloween! Peace, Mary Helen
ReplyDeleteYou said it! We're all part of a delicate web of existence here on this planet. I also learned that the bumble bees out in the barn who stare me down are just trying to get me to leave their turf and eggs that are in the wood. Who knew? They don't sting, either.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderfully informative post! It disturbs me so much, how people still feel they need to kill bees and other beneficial "pests" around their homes and gardens. Repel or just leave them alone, but don't kill, I say. Modern man just doesn't understand how we are all connected, and how destructive it is to try to dominate and control nature. Without the bees, we are all in deep trouble.
ReplyDeleteYes! I was startled by a Nature special on Colony Collapse so invited these kind beekeepers to the library. The 27 people who came left with a more positive feeling toward bees.
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