Delving into Bee Behavior - The Mystery of Cell Entombment

Hey Bee Enthusiasts! 🌼✨ Ever heard about cell entombment in beehives?

I stumbled upon a fascinating article from The Guardian that dives into this intriguing behavior. Let me break it down for you!

According to the article, when bees face a crisis, they resort to a last-ditch effort: cell entombment. They seal off certain cells in the hive, almost like a protective shield. However, here’s the buzzkill – this behavior is often found in struggling colonies that eventually face a grim fate.

Researcher Jeff Pettis discovered that colonies exhibiting entombing are more likely to experience significant losses. Even more concerning, tests on entombed cell contents revealed higher concentrations of pesticides compared to other cells. Yikes!

Have you ever come across these entombed cells in your hive inspections? I recall spotting them decades ago, mainly in aged, dark comb. Some of that comb was over 80 years old – talk about a buzzworthy mystery!

Cell entombment is not just a red flag for colony survival but might also signal potential issues with hive product quality.

-Stay curious and buzzing, D 🐝🤠