Old Speckled Hen Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 This is very interesting http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/7435950/Honey-bees-secret-world-of-heat-revealed.html Seems to knock a few previous ideas about bees on the head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Now, that is interesting. I'd always understood that all bees (excluding the queen and drones) did all the jobs, just at different stages. This seems to say that some bees never leave the hive. I will try and watch - or record - that programme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 The world of the colony never ceases to amaze me. I think this is why I like beekeeping, although you don't get close to an individual bee like you do with poultry, pets and livestock, the way they operate as a unit with the collective good always taking precedence over the individual is absolutely fascinating. I am in awe of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 We had a talk at our BKA just after I joined last year. It was given by someone from the NBU and he told us about the heater bees. I'm still as fascinated now as I was then about the social construction of a bee colony. They truly are amazing creatures. I'll try to watch the programme when it's on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted March 14, 2010 Author Share Posted March 14, 2010 I'm looking forward to finding out more. Social insects are so fascinating. In this instance I would hold your breath. It is Richard Hammond after all and I'm sure it will just be a snippet amongst other things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Very interesting - I'll make sure we record it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted March 15, 2010 Author Share Posted March 15, 2010 If you want to read about this the book all the fuss is about is here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buzz-About-Bees-Biology-Superorganism/dp/3540787275/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268637294&sr=8-1 I've just ordered a copy Blimey, that first pot of honey next year is going to cost much more than my first egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beesontoast Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Very interesting line of research, and supports the idea of interfering in the lives of bees as little as possible. Beekeepers have always considered that empty cells in a brood comb were a 'bad thing' and indicated a queen who was not up to scratch. This research shows that there is a good reason for leaving empty cells here and there - so these 'heater bees' can climb in and keep the brood around them warm. The selection criteria will have to be reviewed, methinks. I also think this is a good argument for natural comb vs foundation: the bees have complete control over cell size and wall thickness, both of which may play a part in this heating process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Did anyone watch the Richard Hammond programme? I thought the infrared images were amazing. I loved that the heater bees glowed bright yellow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 26, 2010 Share Posted March 26, 2010 After all that - I missed it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted March 26, 2010 Share Posted March 26, 2010 Hopefully, you can catch it on iplayer, Olly. The item is about 40 minutes in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
