Apiculture
The African Bee (1969-1973) opus 75
| 17 January 2023 1200 Hours | | Apiculture, Entomology, Family, Lesotho, Zoology |
In Lesotho (Le su tu), Africa, I was a biology professor.
Of course I taught regular science classes,
But in a country such as Lesotho,
One was obliged to give more back to this poorer society.
I thus decided one of my projects was to develop beekeeping.
Africans are basically terrified of the native, very untame bee.
For good reason. The African bee was always plundered and exploited;
Unlike the European bee, which was selected over time for gentleness.
Once again evolution--selection and mutation--play a major role.
At any rate, I travelled to Ladybrand, South Africa
To learn the art of African beekeeping.
I learned how to completely dress with several layers;
I learned the flowering sources for this species;
I learned the whole art of collecting and extracting the comb honey.
My first encounter with a swarm was in a garage.
Box ready. Smoker lit and in I went.
All were collected and confined in the cardboard boxes.
Everything went like clockwork--I had learned the art!
One works with bees often at night when they are grouped and calm,
But no matter when, a smoker is always needed.
I remember bundling Pierre, my one year old son, into the VW bus,
And driving out into the night with boxes, smoker,
Plus a plastic rounded hair curler to confine the queen,
To collect a nearby swarm and transfer it into one of my hives.
No problem. The child slept and I collected and delivered!
One incident I will never forget--so naturally profound.
A lovely, soft, quiet African afternoon'
As I tore open the corrugated wall of a trading post,
Behind which was a gigantic hive,
A Mosotho mother, baby on her back,
Stepped away from the crowd,
Squatted, let her stream of urine flow,
Got back up and walked away.
Such a beautiful sight of a natural human function.
At times, I collected whole combs to deliver to a local Holiday Inn.
The idea came to me that they serve the combs, Sundays, on silver platters.
They were delighted with the thought and combs were then delivered.
So, that was the beginning of my introduction to yet another fellow creature.
Beekeeping can be heavy work,
But such a sweet, calming way to pass one's time and life experience.
Our Honey Bee opus 123
| 3 July 2023 0845 Hours | | Botany, Apiculture, California, Entomology, Evolution |
Much of our agricultural system is partially built on a house of cards.
California, for instance, has over 1600 species of native bees,
All species of which are full-time pollinators.
But upon what species do we mostly rely for controlled pollination?
It is the European--yes European--Honey Bee,
Introduced long ago from the European invasion of North America.
For many years (40+), I conducted walking tours on Quail Ridge Reserve,
Now part of the Natural Reserve System of the University of California, Davis.
Whenever I came upon a native Buckeye tree,
I would ask, "Why, with all those large, phallic blossoms,
Are the blossoms' 'products' lethal to our Honey Bee?"
Few could ever correctly answer, but the answer is in its name!
European.
By introducing a non-native species to a new region of the world,
There is always the risk of potential catastrophe.
Some living thing--plant or animal-- will find a 'weakness',
And in the world of evolution, will take advantage for its own survival.
The European Honey Bee has not evolved in North America
To be able to pollinate a California Buckeye with its toxins.
Just as it has now rapidly been barraged with parasites.
It is always dangerous to introduce much of anything
To another region without risk:
Especially a creature introduced, which also lives in a huge community!
Is this phenomenon a warning that a gigantic human population
Is relying absolutely too much on cultures of another gigantic population?
As we watch the 'emergence' of virus, spreading through our hospitals and the world,
We must teach our young to truly understand the principles of evolution,
And that the phenomenon, is ever-guided through natural selection.
The Bumblebee; a California Fish? opus 127
| 3 July 2023 1610 Hours | | Law, Apiculture, Entomology, Ichthyology, Zoology |
Under certain circumstances, a California court
Has ruled bees can legally be considered fish 'under specific circumstances'.
So, does the bumblebee, for instance, a terrestrial invertebrate,
Fall within the definition of fish (Endangered Species Act 2062)?
The Act itself protects "native species or subspecies
Of bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile, or plant."
Invertebrates are conspicuously absent from that list of protected species!
But there is a lucky loophole for insects, mollusks, and other spineless creatures,
Falling under the umbrella term "invertebrate":
The actual act defines a "fish" as a "wild fish, mollusk,
Crustacean, INVERTEBRATE, amphibian or part, spawn, or ovum therefrom.
So, this expansion of the definition of fish to include invertebrates,
Allows them for greater protection from the Fish and Game Commission,
And just in time for several species of endangered bumblebee!
No wonder the 'law' can do almost anything!
It is just those germane, ferreted-out words and phrases.
II. Human-caused Evolutionary Changes - Aggressive African Bees/Gentle European Bees opus 139
| 14 July 2023 1800 Hours | | Apiculture, Behavior, Entomology, Evolution |
The African honeybee has been selected for aggressiveness
Because of intense predation, including by humans,
Who, in spite of many stings, desire the sweet honey
And would merely plunder a hive, thus selecting for ever-more aggressive bees.
This bee was never domesticated by humans.
Wild hives and managed hives are the same bee, populations shifting back and forth.
Also it is thought that the African honeybee race is so aggressive
Because it evolved in an arid environment, sources of nectar and pollen being scarce.
Natural selection thus favored aggressive colonies which protected their food source
And their hives from predators and robber bees from other colonies.
Bee keeping is the art of caring for and managing colonies.
This is what occurred with the European honeybee--over centuries--
Continually selecting for gentler and gentler queens.
The whole colony was then basically selected for gentleness.
Thus there are more than 20 honeybee races in Europe, America, and Asia,
But only two are found in South Africa.
Beekeeping with the African honeybee does occur with some people,
Especially European transplants.
But, as I can attest, heavy clothing and patience are necessities,
And the result from this very productive producer is rewarding.
AI and Honey Bees--New Introductions into Society opus 390
| 10 July 2024 1615 Hours | | Evolution, Apiculture, Climate, Custom, Farming, Technology |
AI is a new 'entity' entering our society.
It shall bring many 'benefits' to medicine, education, research and warfare,
But shall also be utilized by those who will harm society.
AI, in the greater picture, with its thirst for power, will be affecting climate change
In a major and exceedingly harmful way,
Unless several breakthroughs to lessen negative effects on society are
manifested.
Similarly, the introduction of the (European!) Honey Bee has had a
parallel biological effect.
It was introduced to produce honey, but more,
To pollinate the ever-increasing flowering plants in our 'growing' agriculture.
Being introduced, this 'new' species in a new place is vulnerable to the whims of evolution,
Including the many pests which have taken advantage of a vulnerable 'foreigner'.
If the use of Honey Bees fails, due to disease and increasing Climate Crisis temperatures,
Will the whole pollinating system of North America
Crash to a halt with simultaneously decreasing tumultuous food production?
Great ideas and systems may appear ingenious and invulnerable,
But in the long run, may not survive the desired intended human system!
Mason Bee vs the European Honeybee opus 559
| 8 April 2025 1805 Hours | | Apiculture, California, Entomology, Farming |
I have raised many bees in Sweden and Africa and am well aware of their ways.
Honeybees have been used as pollinators in the US since the 1600's.
Today, the bee loss is tremendous--up to 60 to 100%.
Because they are non-native, they are succumbing to pesticides,
Habitat loss, and mite infestations.
Our native pollinators are affected, but holding on so far.
There are 4000 species of US bee pollinators--1600 in California alone.
The Honeybee is a terrible pollinator because
Most of the pollen is deposited in the hive.
Thus they do not pollinate efficiently.
An alternative native bee is successfully being tried--the Mason Bee.
This bee, also called the Blue Orchard Bee, simply belly flops onto a flower,
Then, covered in pollen, it continues, generously pollinating.
The Honeybee lives in large hives, allowing easy transportation for farmers.
Mason Bees live in cavities or tubes--they make no honey,
There is no queen bee nor workers--all females are queens.
Because they build chambers in the tubes--thus the name Mason Bee.
This bee rarely stings and all they need is water and a mud supply!
Of course a constructed tube hive of some sort must also be provided.