Bees - The Unsung Heroes

As most of you have heard, the world bee population is in trouble. Honey Nut Cheerios have removed the bees from their boxes until the world bee population rebounds and we reach sustainable bee populations again. There are global efforts currently going on across the globes to bring bee populations back to their former glory. These creatures are highly misunderstood however. We’re here today to dispell these rumours and clear up any questions you have on these little guys.

1. There was a Queen Bee before there was Queen Bey! Queen bees organize the hive, and lay all the eggs to create the next generation. The hive community also includes worker bees who forage for food, and drones who mate with the Queen. The Hive is also the name of a bumpin climbing gym in Vancouver, and this post was not at all sponsored by them.

2. Bees are exquisite dancers, but their boogie serves a purpose. Their waggle dance communicates to other worker bees where the food source is. We can only aspire to one day shake our abdomens as successfully as a bee.

3. These magnificent insects are the ultimate campers. They are able to thermoregulate their hives, shivering their bodies to generate heat throughout the winter and fanning their wings to stimulate airflow to cool off in the summer. The Cracks & Crocs team intends to attempt some biomimicry at the crag this summer to adapt to changing temperatures.

4. Many people believe that bumble bees shouldn’t be able to fly because of their body proportions. This infact isn’t true! This rumour was started back in 1934 by a German physicist named Lugwig Prandtl however was cleared up by American Michael Dickinson in 2005. Just because their bodies are big and their wings are small, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t fly! Here at Cracks & Crocs, our bodies may be big and hands too small, but we still make it up the wall!

5. Finally, bees have two stomachs! They have one stomach to digest food, while the other is too store nectar to bring back to the hive. Much like Georgia Dow at Cracks & Crocs, our chief snackologist, she has one stomach to digest and the other to carry food up the wall to feed to other climbers much like a mother bird to her chicks.

Written By: Gabi “The Hammer” Foss and Isaac “Tiger Claw” McLellan

Sources

https://www.natgeokids.com/za/discover/animals/insects/honey-bees/#!/register

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/08/bumblebee-flight-does-not-violate-the-laws-of-physics/

http://www.ontariohoney.ca/kids-zone/bee-facts