Sighting a bee is considered a good omen. These hardworking, productive creatures symbolize good fortune in almost every culture. But sighting too many bees too often and too close to your home can be a cause of worry. A bee’s sting can be extremely painful, even fatal if you’re allergic to bee venom. As such, … Read more
We’ve all eaten honey at some point in our lives. We all also tend to assume that we know how honey is made: some poor bee goes from flower to flower to flower collecting nectar, and then transforms it into the gorgeous thick golden liquid that we find so irresistible. But what if I were … Read more
The bees have always been crowned as leader pollinators – and have won the praise of all and sundry. Their brethren, the wasps, have never really made it to the top of the popularity charts. Dismissed as just another insect that often administers a painful sting, we don’t welcome it the way we would the … Read more
Before we dive into this vast topic, let me tell you what you can expect to learn about: Different types of bees 9 species of bees and their characteristics 7 families of bees So, let’s begin. Which species do honey bees fall under? The genus Apis. This bee species has at least 44 known sub-varieties. … Read more
Welcome! (Or if you’re a returning reader, welcome back!) Let’s introduce you to a special someone — the leafcutter bee. Pretty straightforward name, as you’ll come to find out. A critical difference between leafcutter bees and their cousins, the honeybees, is that leafcutters are solitary bees. Translation: there are no colonies or classes in a … Read more
The number of bees is on a steady decline worldwide today, so much so that in China farmers are resorting to hand-pollination due to the near-absence of bees. In the US too the collapse of colonies has been gradually increasing each year. The reason for this is primarily attributed to the rising use of the … Read more
Bees are seemingly docile creatures, that is, until you cross paths with them. Sure, they maintain the balance in nature and make honey, but these amiable insects can cause mayhem in your household. Stinging insects like ground bees and wasps infest your backyard and garden property creating a ruckus for the inhabitants. We have discussed … Read more
Often referred to as “Killer Bees” by the mainstream media, this species is a cross between the European honey bees and bees from Africa. Africa is a continent known for its primitive, hostile environment where both human and animals were subject to the extremities of nature. Obviously, only the most aggressive and most feral of … Read more
Why are Bees Important? Believe it or not, man has been worshipping the Bees since time immortal. Whether it was the ancient Egyptian civilization that considered bees as royalty in 3500 BC or early Indian Hindu mythology that believes that the Hindu God of Love, Kama Dev’s cupid arrows are covered with bees, or the … Read more
Bee Life Cycle – A Fascinating Journey of Life of These Fabulously Smart Creatures Bees have been around for quite a while now, fascinating scientists and naturalists alike. These simple stinging insects have the most complex and well-organised colonies that could put a top-notch corporate firm to shame! And although we tend to often swat … Read more