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getagrip_already

(14,741 posts)
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 11:54 AM Aug 2020

If only the US were a honey bee colony

In addition to being highly organized, and highly efficient, honey bee colonies have some fascinating behaviors.

For example, they have 3 classes of "citizens":

The Queen:

usually only one - But she does not rule. She is basically an egg laying resource for the colony and is pampered and protected and herded and bossed around - as long as she does her damn job. If she falters, gets old, or the colony decides she isn't working out, they raise a new queen and either kill the old one or send her packing.

The workers:

These are the joint rulers of the colony. Female only, they hold a series of very specialized jobs from birth to death. They start out as nurse bees, take turns controlling the air flow in the hive, there are water gathers, scouts, foragers, and guard bees. If one of the workers faulters, or gets sick, they will voluntarily leave the hive (or be forced out). You can only stay if you contribute to the survival of the colony.

And finally, the Drones.

Males only. Their ONLY role is to mate with a virgin queen. Siily boys don't know that their ejaculations are so powerful they blow their abdomens apart. They are a once and done crowd. (the virgin quenn will mate with as many as 30 drones in a wild weekend away). While they are hanging out at the hive, they are fed and cared for by the workers. They don't do any of the work in the colony. They don't even have stingers. One job. Oh, and they can freeload on any hive they like. guard bees from other colonies just let them in. Not so for workers.

But in fall, the drones job is done and the colony will drive their free loading butts out of the hive and into the cold to die. There is no reason for a colony to keep them around consuming resources all winter long. They are simply cast out.

And so it should be for trump and his gang of freeloaders. Fall is almost here, and it is time to kick them out to die in the cold.

Just a thought from a hobby beekeeper....

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If only the US were a honey bee colony (Original Post) getagrip_already Aug 2020 OP
Interesting! SheltieLover Aug 2020 #1
Fascinating! I've landscaped my yard to be Phoenix61 Aug 2020 #2
if only... my philosophies of life handmade34 Aug 2020 #3
I know you were just musing, but Ferrets are Cool Aug 2020 #4
We try to plant bee friendly in our yard too. they really seem to love demigoddess Aug 2020 #5
They love any flowering herb. sarge43 Aug 2020 #6

Phoenix61

(17,003 posts)
2. Fascinating! I've landscaped my yard to be
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 12:12 PM
Aug 2020

bee and butterfly friendly. Maybe one day I’ll try my hand at beekeeping. It sounds like a fascinating endeavor.

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