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
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
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
Transitioning into a petaloso world
I spoke of the impulse in “Hunkering Down – A Lesson From Bees,” which appears in Frederick Swan’s ezine, 2nd Tuesday, and have indeed hunkered down throughout the days of winter. Emerging now from darkness, I am among many who … Continued