Uncovering The Hidden Superpowers Of Honey Bees
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play a vital role in the life of humans as well. If climatic changes lead to
insect die-offs, human life will also be less livable and tough. The value of
pollination carried out by the insects is nearly priceless, and honey bees are
the most significant pollinators.
Scientists have found new ways to control the decline in honey
bee populations. The United States has estimated that over half a million
species could be lost by the midpoint of this century. The decline in the
population of bees imperils our food security, possibly denies us new
prescriptions, and degrades the environments we depend upon to support life. We
are making a rendition of misery for our most prominent partners on this planet
through pesticide use, habitat loss, and environmental change.
The declining population is not the sole reason to care for and
study these lovely insects; their unique personalities and capabilities also
have a lot to tell us. We all know that bees contribute majorly to the annual
global food production through pollination.
A world without honey bees might void people of their favorite
coffee cups, meals, mixed greens, raw
honey, almond-and honey-topped chocolates, and more. Their
nonappearance would eliminate a large group of nutritious food from our eating
regimens, including apples, strawberries, pumpkins, potatoes, onions,
cauliflowers, carrots, papayas, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, almonds,
sunflowers, cocoa, and coffee. To be able to save them, we first need to know
about them. Below are some surprising abilities of honey bees that many of us
have never heard about –
(1) Bees can understand the concept of zero. They are capable of
performing addition and subtraction, and many researchers have shown that bees
can be trained to detect landmines as well. They are more effective than
sniffer dogs.
(2) Honey bees are in tune with electricity in loads of
extraordinary ways. First, they can detect the Earth's magnetic field and use
it to explore the north direction based on Earth's magnetic field.
(3) They are capable enough to fly at an altitude of 5,500
meters, i.e., 18,000 feet above sea level, which is less than Mount
Kilimanjaro's summit.
(4) Insects are prestigious for carrying 50 times their fair
weight, which is noteworthy until you understand that honey bees can
undoubtedly carry 122 times their weight. Goodness and they can fly, as well.
In the air, they can pull their weight in pollen, and keeping in mind that
honey bees commonly forage somewhere in the range of 1 and 3 miles from the
hive, tests show that they can even find their home from 8 miles away.
(5) Little as they are, honey bee brains are shockingly capable
of mastering novel, complex errands. Several studies have proved that honey
bees can be taught to play "bee soccer." The bees' capacity to handle
this novel task is significant for insect intelligence, showing that they're
much more complex thinkers than we thought.
(6) Most insects just shut down or die off when it gets cold
because thermoregulation capacity is commonly a mammalian quality. Yet, honey
bees have worked out a clever warming system for themselves and the entire
hive. These hardworking insects can wrench up the thermostat by 35 degrees
Celsius. In colder times of the year, honey bees can separate their wings and
turn on their wing muscles to heat up.
According to Mr. Basem
Barry, founder & CEO of Geohoney,
we humans usually believe that honey bees are mindless, identical drones doing
their jobs in the same pattern. But, many new investigations propose that they
have various characters and feelings. For example, some buzz jockeys are
thrill-seekers who are more ready to face challenges than their identical
siblings.
These little honey bees are so workaholics. They work so much and with any break. I am impressed by their dedication. Actually, it is their efforts and hard work that bring the incredible taste to the sweet honey. Nothing in this world could match their efforts