A beezzzzZZZ life

I really liked the bug post by @apsu and I don’t mind a bit of a pissing contest here and there. I always say it makes you push that extra inch further. Now what @apsu doesn’t know is…it is kind of a lost battle. My man is a bee keeper, so getting that picture is quite easy. :)

Animals and nature were more or less a part of my life since I can remember. Cows, chicken, rabbits, geese, ducks, pigs, cats, parrots, dogs, turtles, birds spiders, etc. When I was a teen I did not appreciate the farm life. I wanted to be a city chick. I wanted to be a sharp dressed woman…I wanted to be someone.

I am 34 now and for my breakfast I had some eggs I got from home with hand-picked leek and parsley. On the side was fresh baked bread with garlic and home-made butter. The wheat and garlic were of course also home grown. I was eating my eggs knowing that my father is that someone. I think it’s not really the taste that makes you think that the food is special, but the knowing you raised it and the energy you invested. I do have a job in the city and I immensely enjoy it. But at the end of the day ... when I drink my coffee I drink it with deep appreciation for the land that stretches around me.

I derailed a bit didn’t I? Let’s face some bee facts you might not know:

1.) Bees are a monarchy. The queen supremacy is the ultimate law and order. She whistles you dance. Quite literally. If you go close enough to the beehive you can hear her quite clearly.

2.) The queen leaves the beehive just once in her lifetime. She flies high above where she mates with the drones. She stores all the sperm that will last for her whole lifetime.

3.) Now common mistake is people believing there are many types of bees with different assignments. Nope…there is just the one. The moment they hatch they take the roll of the French maid and start house cleaning. When they develop their fodder glands they are promoted to a wet nurse, feeding the larvae. Over time they also take positions as builders, guards, etc. When the bee is about 3 weeks old it takes the job of the flying bee.

4.) Some of the flying bees serve as scouts too. If you ever notice a bee moving in circles that’s called a bee dance. Through the dance she communicates with the rest where she found the jackpot of nectar.

5.) Bees have a lot of natural enemies, like birds, wasps and European hornet (look at this dick eating a honey bee).

6.) Bees are a bit OCD. They like it super clean. So if you would like to feed them with sugar you actually have to melt it down, otherwise they will just get rid of it. They also regularly remove their dead sisters or any other objects that might have fallen on the doorstep.

7.) By eating honey a bee’s body produces wax. Mixing that with a bit of honey they build combs. Now if only I could pull that off using my earwax.

Now most people would hunt for pictures on the pastures. Sure … but water is life. Everyone must drink right? So do the bees. Especially when the temperatures are very high. You can always help the bugs a bit if you want to and make an artificial water supply for them. All you need is a tray and some river stones. On the other hand you can use whatever you want, even Lego blocks for that matter. It is much easier for the bugs to drink this way. You can make it into a family project of sorts instead of the regular bird house people tend to go for. It is super easy and offers a lot of entertainment. Or you can make your own bee feeder, but I will leave that for another post in the future.

All the pictures were taken with Huawei P10.