You’ve managed your honey bee colonies all spring and summer with no problem. Now and then an aggressive guard warned you off, but in general the bees were docile. All of a sudden, however, the bees are angry. They fly at you. They form a dark cloud above their hive. They bury themselves in your […] Read more
After I wrote about milkweed fairies, I received the following story in an e-mail. Although I had read about this practice, I never knew of anyone who actually did it. Now I do. Kapok trees produce pods with seeds surrounded by a fluffy, yellowish fiber that is water resistant. Kapok seed “fairies” have characteristics similar […] Read more
I was reminded yesterday about how important it is to remove your rings when beekeeping. Usually I have very little reaction to bee stings. They hurt for a moment and turn red. The redness disappears after a few minutes. Sometimes they itch. But every so often one produces swelling that lasts a long time. Yesterday […] Read more
Why are bee suits white? Good question. Presumably bee suits are white because honey bees don’t like black. I’ve read that bees will attack dark things that move because they think that they are bears or skunks or raccoons. I’ve also read that bees will attack dark areas of the body such as the eyes. […] Read more
Honey bees come in two sexes and two castes—not three castes. In fact, the definition of “caste” is about the only thing I remember from my college entomology courses, and that’s because the professors drilled it into our little brains incessantly. Even more prevalent than the “honey bees never sleep” myth is the “honey bees […] Read more
All insects have fat bodies—tissues that contain lipids, glycogen, triglycerides, and some protein. Fat bodies store energy when food is plentiful and release energy when the bee needs it. The energy stored within these tissues is especially important during larval growth. It is also important during other periods when feeding is restricted, such as during […] Read more
Make a wish, blow it free. What kid in America didn’t grow up chasing milkweed fairies? The hairy white seeds floated, bobbled, and danced across the grass while the neighborhood children delighted in catching the elusive prize. Once caught, you cupped it in your hands, made a wish, and blew it free. It tumbled out […] Read more