Flowers of a given species all produce nectar at about the same time each day, as this increases the chances of cross-pollination. The trick works because pollinators, which in most cases means the honeybee, concentrate foraging on a particular species into a narrow time-window. In effect the honeybee has a daily diary that can include [...]
Archive for the ‘Bee Law’ Category
Circadian Clocks and the Bee’s Daily Diary
Posted in Bee Law, Bee Present, Bee-ology, Beekeeping, Beetwixt & Beetween on August 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Two Years On!
Posted in Bee Law, Bee Lore, Bee Present, Bee-ology, Beekeeping, Beetwixt & Beetween, Bylaugh on August 20, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Two years ago last month this blog started. I continue to be amazed at how many people visit the site. This year has also been quite extraordinary – having caught about 8 swarms of bees. We now have a total of nine colonies. Quite an increase from single old Faith at the start of 2008! [...]
The Beehive in Masonic Tradition
Posted in Bee Law, Bee Lore, Beetwixt & Beetween on June 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Beehive….is an emblem of industry, and recommends the practice of that virtue to all created beings, from the highest seraph in heaven to the lowest reptile of the dust. It teaches us that, as we come into the world rational and intelligent beings, so we should ever be industrious ones; never sitting down contented [...]
Lightning never strikes twice in the same place…..but swarms do!
Posted in Bee Law, Bee Present, Beekeeping on June 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
On Sunday, I got a very unexpected email and phone call! It was from the man who told me about the last swarm that I caught (see the blog entry about catching a swarm in 15 minutes). He had another smaller swarm (which turned out to be a cast). And it was in EXACTLY THE [...]
How to catch a swarm of bees in 15 minutes!
Posted in Bee Law, Bee Present, Beekeeping on May 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The other night I was rung by a local who had a swarm of bees just outside his house in a newly planted Hawthorne Tree. Trouble was that I was going up to London half an hour later! So I only had about 15 minutes to catch the swarm. But I gave it a go. [...]
Lifecycle of the Honeybee
Posted in Bee Law, Bee Lore, Bee Present, Bee-ology, Beekeeping, Beetwixt & Beetween on May 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
A great video on YouTube that gives the Lifecycle of the Honeybee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSk_ev1eZec
Black or White?
Posted in Bee Law, Bee Present, Bee-ology, Beekeeping on May 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The flowers were blooming on the peach trees the first time I went out to photograph bees. After being told what I would need to do and where I would need to stand I was told to change into something white. But why? I asked. “Because you’re wearing black jeans and a dark sweater. To [...]
Giving and Receiving
Posted in Bee Law, Bee Lore, Bee Present, Bee-ology, Beetwixt & Beetween on March 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
For to the bee a flower is a fountain of life And to the flower a bee is a messenger of love And to both, bee and flower, the giving and the receiving is a need and an ecstasy. ~ Kahlil Gibran See: bountifulhealing.wordpress.com/2007/08/04/
Bee’s Eyes
Posted in Bee Law, Bee Present, Bee-ology on January 29, 2009 | 6 Comments »
The bee’s eyes, like those of other insects, differ greatly from human eyes. They consist of a pair of compound eyes made up of numerous six-sided facets. They also have three simple eyes. Despite this, their vision is believed to be sharp for a distance of only about 1 m (3 ft.). The picture below [...]
How Do Swarms Find a New Home?
Posted in Bee Law, Bee Present, Bee-ology, Beekeeping on December 16, 2008 | 2 Comments »
How a swarm locates a new nest site when less than 5% of the community know the way remains a mystery. Curious to find out how swarms cooperate and are guided to their new homes, Tom Seeley, a neurobiologist from Cornell University, and engineers Kevin Schultz and Kevin Passino from The Ohio State University teamed [...]
