“The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others” Saint John Chrysostom
It's good to be Queen.
The queen need not lift a wing, as workers tend to her every need. But don't get the idea the queen is lazy, though. A newly hatched queen begins her life in a duel to the death with any other queens present in the colony, and must destroy potential rivals that have not yet hatched. Throughout her life, she lays eggs and secretes a pheromone that keeps all other females in the colony sterile |
This film clip shows the queen, worker, and drone bees and gives descriptions of them and the jobs they are responsible for. |
Are We There Yet?!
It's possible for a bee to fly as far as 7 miles (or as far as they need to ) from the hive to forage for pollen and nectar. The video below shows a bee in the process of collecting pollen. |
You Shall Not Pass!
Worker bees have a variety of jobs outside of the hive. The video link below demonstrates how the workers help keep the hive cool and guard bees checking the population for intruders. |