The architecture of honeycombs

Has Achieved Nirvana

posted 29 July 2021 11:21 PM

Bees are pretty amazing.

https://arstechnica.com/scienc...cture-of-honeycombs/

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When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier

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BeeLady

Minor Deity

posted 30 July 2021 12:03 AM

YES! They are!!

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Ignored post by BeeLady posted 30 July 2021 12:03 AM

big al

Beatification Candidate

posted 30 July 2021 12:02 PM

That article made me wonder what the status of colony collapse disorder was these days. It was very much in the news a few years ago, but I hadn't seen anything recently.

That led me to this extensive Wikipedia article on the topic. I think it's fair to say that it's a complicated subject and while the decline has perhaps diminished, it's still a cause for concern.

Big Al

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Money seems to buy the most happiness when you give it away.

Why does everything have to be so complicated, all in the name of convenience. -ShiroKuro

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Ignored post by big al posted 30 July 2021 12:02 PM

Nina

Pinta & the Santa Maria
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Picture of Nina

posted 30 July 2021 12:53 PM

Data point of one--I'm seeing far more bees here than I've seen in several years. We plant a lot of summer flowers to attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies and the bees have arrived!

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Ignored post by Nina posted 30 July 2021 12:53 PM

Has Achieved Nirvana

posted 30 July 2021 01:10 PM

I've noticed the same, but this year I also intentionally planted bee-attracting flowers all over my yard. And though I've always been a homebody, with the virus everywhere I'm home even more and spending time in the yard.

I'm seeing all kind of butterflies I've never seen before, and I saw a hummingbird on two different occasions.

I'll take it!

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When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier

Posts: 38235 | Location: Somewhere in the middle | Registered: 19 January 2010

Ignored post by wtg posted 30 July 2021 01:10 PM

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posted 01 August 2021 01:30 PM

I just saw the HUGEST bumblebee out in the yard. It was covered in yellow pollen from the hosta flowers it was visiting...I think I need to plant some hostas closer to my veggie garden....

Bee butt:

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When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier

Posts: 38235 | Location: Somewhere in the middle | Registered: 19 January 2010

Ignored post by wtg posted 01 August 2021 01:30 PM

big al

Beatification Candidate

posted 02 August 2021 11:49 AM

I wonder if what you saw was a hummingbird moth? We spotted one last year frequenting some of our flowers. At first we thought it was a different kind of hummingbird until someone told us about the moths.

Big Al

Posts: 7466 | Location: Western PA | Registered: 20 April 2005

Ignored post by big al posted 02 August 2021 11:49 AM

AdagioM

knitterati
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posted 02 August 2021 12:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by wtg:
I just saw the HUGEST bumblebee out in the yard. It was covered in yellow pollen from the hosta flowers it was visiting...I think I need to plant some hostas closer to my veggie garden....

Bee butt:

This is a FABULOUS picture!

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Ignored post by AdagioM posted 02 August 2021 12:25 PM

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posted 02 August 2021 12:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by big al:
I wonder if what you saw was a hummingbird moth? We spotted one last year frequenting some of our flowers. At first we thought it was a different kind of hummingbird until someone told us about the moths.

Big Al

That's a very cool moth. I've never seen one before.

I tried to get photos of my bee friend, but it kept diving into flowers. But this is what it looked like:

The photo is from The Bee Journal

And another:

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When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier

Posts: 38235 | Location: Somewhere in the middle | Registered: 19 January 2010

Ignored post by wtg posted 02 August 2021 12:40 PM