Yesterday's blog post, named Bee Venom 2, was quite long so we've opted for something shorter today in the spirit of keeping Fridays fun and light-hearted. These videos are short, entertaining and informative.
Why Puerto Rico’s Killer Bees Stopped Killing – 4:36-minutes long.
This video from the Smithsonian Channel looks at African Killer Bees that first arrived in Puerto Rico in 1994. Within a few years these bees had become gentler… one professor from University of Puerto Rico, Tugrul Giray, is trying to figure out why.
The Life Cycle of the Honey Bee Queen (The Making of a Queen) – 3:02-minutes long.
A quick overview of the 10 stages in a Queen Bee’s life from birth to death. This is the story of the making of the queen, and how the continuity from one queen to the next is a natural process…
How Close Are We to Saving the Bees? – 8:05-minutes long.
Some serious bee problems arise from parasites, pathogens, pesticides and poor nutrition…this video gives good insights.
Bees Enjoy Turnip Flowers in January - 5:10-minutes long
Plan ahead and plant winter turnip in July to feed hungry bees the following January. This video has some lovely footage of bees enjoying winter blossoms. It also has "mood music" so just turn down the volume if you prefer.
And don't forget to mark your calendar this year to plant flowers throughout the year that will bloom next winter. This is an easy way you can help bees survive. On warmer winter days they may come out of their hives, so planting these nearby makes it easy for them to feast on something nutritious.
Here are a few types of flowers that provide both nectar and pollen that you might consider planting, depending on your location:
Hybrid Witch Hazel, Japanese Mahonia, Mahonia, Red Maple, Snow Crocus, Snowdrops and Viola.
Happy weekend!