Honey Bees
There are three types of Honey Bees in the hive...
Worker, Queen and Drone
Worker bees are all female and make up about 85% of hive bees. Workers gather flower nectar and pollen; the pollen they carry in special pollen "baskets" on their hind legs. Pollen provides the colony with vital amino acids, vitamins, fats and the enzymes necessary for making honey. Workers also decide which bees in the hive will become queens.
The males or drones have one purpose in life: to mate with the queen; but there are distinct disadvantages to being a male. When food supplies are low or before Winter, workers may kick drones out of the nest. Worse yet, if a drone is so lucky as to mate with a queen he dies immediately after. What a life...
Honey Bee Fun Facts:
- Bees do not create honey; they are actually improving upon a plant product, nectar. The honey we eat is nectar that bees have repeatedly regurgitated and dehydrated
- The term "honey moon" originated with the ancient Norse practice of consuming large quantities of Mead during the first month of a marriage. Mead is a fermented beverage made from honey.
- Honeybees are the only bees that die after they sting
- Bees can recognize individual human faces (We really believe this, our sons rescue 1000's of bees and never get stung -the bees know them!)
- Honeybees never sleep!
For more information on bees and their benefits to our gardens and our planet visit this excellent (external) website.
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