Bee Wisdom - Learning from the Buzzing Teachers

Hey Bee Lovers! 🌼✨ Ever wondered if bees are natural teachers?

Picture this: a low-lit scene, and you’re observing bees in close formation, flying out of the hive. One bee seems to be leading the way, and it got me thinking—could bees be teaching each other?

In small cell colonies, something fascinating unfolds. They initially detect and remove mite-infected pupae. But here’s the real magic: with time, these colonies become experts at dealing with mites. After the second season, mites are barely a bother.

Even when a colony undergoes a genetic makeover through requeening, the savvy mite-cleansing behavior persists. So, I began to wonder: is this learned behavior, passed down through generations as a form of colony intelligence?

A few European beekeepers shared similar observations, but the idea faced skepticism. Well, turns out, there’s more to it! Check out Brian Howard’s article. Maybe those buzzing classrooms aren’t so far-fetched!

Now, imagine if I had treated those bees and wiped out the mites. Would they lose the chance to pass on their mite-detecting wisdom? When mite populations bounce back, would the colony face the same struggles as untreated ones?

Could contaminated equipment and comb play a role? Maybe that’s why some beekeepers find small cell beekeeping challenging.

Let’s delve into the wisdom of bees and unravel the secrets of their buzzing classrooms! ✨

-Cheers to the fascinating world of bee education, D 🐝🤠