At this point we truly have to ask ourselves if there is anything that does not fascinate us about the bee. We have talked for hours on end about the wonderful medicinal benefit of pure raw honey and also how wonderfully exciting it is to observe such a beautiful creature and take lessons from its existence. As research dives deeper and deeper into the short life of this exquisite provider, there is still more to learn.
So....in time old fashion we have listed our Top 5 favourite amazing bee facts that will blow your mind!
So let's say a bee travels up to 5 miles each trip to collect food. In each trip it visits 75 flowers. That would mean that on only 1 ounce of honey a bee can make 4,980 trips and visit a staggering 373,515 plants! Fuel efficiency at it's best!
Bee stings may also ease pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo found that molecules in bee venom increase your body’s level of glucocorticoid, an anti-inflammatory hormone. BUT that does not mean you run a hug the nearest hive singing like ACE Ventura!
Researchers at Arizona State University have observed that when an ageing honeybee does the work of a younger bee their brains stop ageing! In fact, their brain ages in reverse. Right....last one to Toys R Us has to wear a nappy!
That's right, THEY remember YOU! They use a process called 'configular processing' to remember characteristics such as eyebrows, lips and ears. Challenging if you are a uni-browed botoxed elf! (Whatever you do, DO NOT GOOGLE IT!)
The clever people at University of Illinois found that some bees are thrill-seekers and others are bit more timid. A 2011 study even found that agitated honeybees can be pessimistic, showing that, to some extent, bees might have feelings. Base jumping bees...we love it!
There you have it. Our Top 5 mind blowing bee facts!