Apis mellifera mellifera—Honey Bee
Apis mellifera, the name of the species of Apis well known to keepers of the bees! And yet, as is true of much about the honey bee, even the name can get complicated . . . Among the complications is … Continued
Making Sense of the Honey Bee Antenna
A Multi-Sensory Appendage The honey bee antenna, delicate as it is, provides a wealth of information essential for function and survival of both the bee and the colony. It comprises the scape, which attaches to the honey bee head, the … Continued
Touching Feet to the Ground
The 27 bones that comprise our foot and ankle help us negotiate terrain of many kinds. We make changes in their position and articulation when we find ourselves walking on ice or skating in socks across a marble tile floor. … Continued
Honey, for Real*
The Complaint A highly regarded beekeeper passed along a complaint he has received, one that is filed with the Department of Justice. The complaint states that his honey has failed four “common home tests for real honey.” Unconcerned because he … Continued
Finding a Flower in Bloom
A small, fuzzy honey bee makes her way to a clematis flower growing in a garden nearly two miles from her home. How did she find that flower? This common occurrence tends to go without much notice—other than by some who see … Continued
Microbiomes Matter!
So many things, we cannot see. Even so, some may make their presence felt. Take, for example, the classic “stomach bug” we cite to little ones with tummy troubles. This has long been the case. I still remember my own … Continued
That Grand Interaction
John Skinner, University of Tennessee, opened his presentation at the Oregon State Beekeepers Association 2016 conference by telling us that the interaction of plants and pollinators is his favorite topic. It is indeed nothing short of amazing. Further, the ramifications … Continued
So Many Things for a Mandible to Do!
Defining a Mandible If we think of a mandible in terms of ourselves, we find it defined as: the jaw or a jawbone, especially the lower jawbone in mammals and fishes. We are able to move our jaw up and … Continued
Connecting with Nature
As my dad and I followed a raccoon trail one fall afternoon many years ago, I bent down and picked up a seemingly luminescent maple leaf. When I showed it to him, he said when he was young his teacher … Continued
There, I’ve done it again . . .
I have now done it again—both revised the Beargrass Press website and made a mess of things in the process. For the website, time was a consideration, as I’ve described in another post, yet I wanted more flexibility than was … Continued