Honey bees are one of the world’s most studied creatures.
Those honey bees we take for granted, pollinate about one third of the food we eat and enjoy.
Though their lifespan is a meager 6-8 weeks, a worker bee flies the distance of circumference of our Earth approximately 1 1/2 times.
One bee produces only 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.
A National Geographic study found that bees are attracted by caffeine. It actually improves their memories.
Their hexagon shaped honeycombs hold the most honey using the smallest amount of material (wax).
Honey bees are the only insect that produces a human food.
Each collection trip the honey bee visits between 50 to 100 flowers.
To produce one pound of honey, a hive of bees must fly 55,000 miles
Honey bees don’t sleep. Instead, they spend their nights motionless, conserving energy for the next day’s activities.
The honey bee is the official insect of Maine.
Honey is the only known source of the antioxidant pinocembrin, an anti-inflammatory and anticancer antioxidant.
The queen bee goes on what is called a “mating flight” where she leaves the hive. She mates with anywhere from 5 to 45 different drones, stores the sperm in her spermatheca, and has a lifetime supply. She takes just one “mating flight: in her lifetime.
Honey bees are not born knowing how to make honey. Instead, they are taught in the hive by older bees.
Honey is the only food that contains all of the necessary nutrients to sustain life.
And, finally… honey was found in King Tut’s tomb, and, because honey never spoils, it was still good…
Honey in King Tut’s tomb! That gets a ‘wow’ from me!