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HoneyBee School & Supply

Resources

Truth or Myth . . . do bees have a grandfather but no father?

In a honeybee colony, the drones (male bees) do not have fathers in the traditional sense. Rather, they are produced by the queen through a process called “parthenogenesis,” which means development from an unfertilized egg. When the queen lays eggs, she can decide whether to fertilize them with sperm from a drone or to leave them unfertilized. If the egg is fertilized, it will develop into a female bee (worker or queen). If it is unfertilized, it will develop into a male bee (drone). Because drones are produced by the queen through parthenogenesis, they do ...

Myth or Truth: Bees Can Protect Themselves from Pooh!

Bees are relatively small and vulnerable to predators, so they have developed a number of behaviors and adaptations to help protect themselves and their hive. Some of the ways that honeybees protect themselves and their hive from bears and other predators include: Guard bees: Honeybees have a group of workers known as guard bees that are responsible for protecting the hive. These bees will fly out to investigate potential threats and may attempt to deter or attack any animals or humans that approach the hive. Alarm pheromones: When a bee senses a threat, it will relea...
HoneyBee School & Supply

Myth Buster: Are Honeybees Really As Aggressive As We Think?

Growing up, it is likely you had a fear of bees. Maybe you have a vivid memory of playing in your backyard and getting stung. Maybe you think of bees as these buzzing pests that won’t stop following you around, no matter how hard you try to swat them away. Many people beginning beekeeping have a negative perception of honeybees. However, they truly are not all that scary; they’re incredible! Learning to appreciate honeybees will also help you to not fear them. Regular Behavior Most of the time, a honeybee will not sting you unless you are being a...