You know bees…those fuzzy, flying insects with yellow and black stripes. They’re known for a few things, like pollinating, stinging, and their hard work. This month we’d like to share a few other facts you may not know about these buzzy insects…
Bees are found on every continent except, of course. Antarctica, and in every environment that contains insect-pollinated flowering plants. (Which explains why there are none in Antarctica!)
The world’s largest bees come from a species called the Indonesian resin bee (Megachile pluto.) Females of this species can grow to 1.5 inches in length! Imagine one of those circling your floral scented hair! Conversely, dwarf sting-less bees can be less than 2 millimeters long. That’s about the size of the point of a new crayon!
They are (generally) hard workers
Bees are important food providers because they pollinate our crops and manufacture honey.
The old saying “busy as a bee” isn’t a myth. They are very for the most part very diligent creatures! Research has determined, however, that even in beehives there are “workers” and “shirkers.”
A typical worker bee can live for nine months during cool weather, but in the summer they usually die within six weeks. During this time, they literally work themselves to death.
Bees are hardwired to perform specific tasks. Scouts love adventure and are programmed to search for new sources of food. Soldier bees work as security guards their whole life. About one percent of middle-aged bees become undertakers. A genetic brain pattern compels them to remove dead bees from the hive.
Regular honey bees can perform multiple jobs over the course of their lifetime. For them, retraining is just part of life. Before every new assignment their brain chemistry changes to equip them for the upcoming job.
Bees are changing how we think about medicine
Scientists have discovered that bee’s brains can actually age in reverse! When older bees do jobs typically performed by younger members, their brains not only stop aging, they regain function. This phenomenon has serious implications for treatment of dementia in humans, as researchers believe adopting this principle in humans could slow progress of the disease.
To reinforce their hives, bees use a resin from poplar and evergreen trees called propolis. It’s basically beehive glue. We humans use it to fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Research shows that propolis from a beehive may relieve cold sores, canker sores, herpes, sore throat, cavities, and even eczema. As it turns out, some of those home remedies containing beeswax apparently have merit after all!
Perhaps most interestingly, bee stings actually have some benefits. Their venom contains a toxin called melittin, which may prevent HIV. This toxin creates holes into the virus’ protective envelope causing the virus to die. However, it does not affect normal cells. Scientists are working to create preventative gels using melittin.
Researchers have discovered bee stings may also reduce the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. That’s because bee venom increases your body’s level of glucocorticoid, an anti-inflammatory hormone.
They have some very human traits
Honeybees make out faces the same way we do. They take parts—like eyebrows, lips, and ears—and cobble them together to make out the whole face. It’s called “configural processing,” and according to the New York Times, this might help computer scientists improve facial recognition technology.
Not all bees are interchangeable drones. Some bees love adventure, while others prefer to “play it safe.” A 2011 study even found that agitated honeybees can be pessimistic, which indicates that at some level bees might have feelings.
We’ve now learned that serial killers have bee-like tendencies. They commit crimes close to home, but far away enough neighbors don’t become suspicious. This is not unlike bees, who collect pollen near their hive, but far enough predators can’t find where they live. This discovery helped criminologists develop computer models that police use to successfully track down felons.
Caffeine, cocaine and bees
Did you know caffeine isn’t just a substance designed to give you a morning pickup? It’s actually a defense chemical plants produce to repel harmful insects while luring pollinators to come closer. Scientists have discovered that caffeine helps bees remember where flowers are, increasing the chances they can find their way back.
While caffeine is beneficial to bees, cocaine is a real downer. It turns them into liars. Bees “dance” to communicate directions to good food. When scientists added a bit of cocaine to nectar, the insects exaggerated their moves, misdirecting others and overstating food quality. After the “buzz”, they even exhibited withdrawal symptoms!
Bees can solve complex real-world problems
Imagine this: you have to visit six stores and they’re at separate locations. What’s the shortest distance you can take to shop at every one? Mathematicians call this “traveling salesman problem,” and the solution even evades some computers. Researchers have learned that bumblebees almost always fly the shortest route possible between flowers, and they seem to be the only animals known to be able to do this.
Of course, to take the shortest route, it’s important to have good navigational skills. Bees rely upon the sun for directions. But when it’s cloudy they have a backup. They have special photoreceptors that detect polarized light. This ability enables them to find the sun’s place in the sky. Historians believe the Vikings used a similar system that relied upon calcite blocks called sunstones that acted like a Polaroid filter and helped them stay on course.
Even in ancient times human observers recognized bees were superior builders. Marcus Terentius Varro argued in 36 B.C. that honeycombs were the most practical structures around. Centuries later, Greek mathematician Pappus made the same claim. In modern times (1999) mathematician Thomas Hales presented a proof illustrating that honeycombs use the least amount of wax of all possible structures.
What does all this mean?
Americans consume about 285 million pounds of honey each year. On top of that, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that honeybees pollinate 80 percent of the country’s insect crops—meaning bees pollinate over $20 billion worth of crops each year. Bees are valuable contributors to our environment and are certainly worth protecting.
At KC Pest Control we understand the importance of bees to the health and well-being of our environment and economy. We share this planet with many amazing creatures. We are committed to controlling pest populations in responsible ways. Our goal is to offer treatment plans that balance the need to protect people and animals from harmful situations while sustaining the natural world around us. Contact us today to see how we can responsibly solve your pest problem.
