Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley
Leisure:Home & Garden
In Part 2 of the Hum of the Hive retrospective, we’ve once again combined multiple (4) short segments together. So, make sure to listen to the end to hear them all! Hum of the Hive, featuring Linda Aydlett, follows the honeybee through the four seasons.
In the first segment, field bees are the focus of attention. Linda describes the various resources required by a hive to survive. To gather these resources, experienced foraging bees, also called scout bees, use a ‘waggle dance’ to communicate where the nectar or other resources can be found. Listening to this, you’ll appreciate why the field bees are the hardest working members of the hive.
Next, we shift to what happens to a honeybee colony in the spring. Many hives, that are running out of room, swarm to divide the colony. But this is not an impulsive decision. Many preparations are required to successfully accomplish this. The queen needs conditioning to be able to fly to a new location. Scout bees have to find potential places to relocate, and then use the waggle dance to communicate options. Once a favored location is selected, the colony flies off to its new home.
In the third segment, learn about propolis. Some resin honeybees collect resin from trees and shrubs and carry it back to the hive. Then, cementing bees remove the resin from the resin collecting bees and apply it to various uses within the hive. It can be used to seal cracks and crevices in preparation for the winter months, but resin also protects the colony from diseases, due to its multiple beneficial properties.
Finally, in the fourth segment, we shift to the summer months when water may be in short supply. This is called a dearth. Measures are taken to survive in difficult times. For example, they may limit the size of the colony by not allowing drones to return to the hive. Fewer bees mean fewer mouths to feed. They might also resort to cannibalism, or robbery to ensure the continuation of the colony. It can be tough to be a bee!
We welcome your feedback on the first or our retrospective series to help you find content on a specific topic in one place. E-mail us at colgremg@cornell.edu.
ResourcesEpisode 45: Shade Gardening
Episode 44: Mums, Sedums, Annual Vines and Season Extenders
Episode 43: Hortus Arboretum
Episode 42: American Ginseng
Episode 41: Winterizing the Garden, Coneflowers, Mugwort & Overmountain
Episode 40: Food Insecurity
Episode 39: Salamanders, Earthworms and More
Episode 38: Phlox, Siegel-Kline Kill and Root Crops
Episode 37: Mountaintop Arboretum
Episode 36: Ragwort, Hydrangea, Cucurbits and Ticks
Episode 35: Native Trees and Shrubs
Episode 34: Tomatoes, Beekeeping and Hiking
Episode 33: So You Bought a House
Episode 32: Answers to Popular Gardening Questions
Episode 31: Invasive Pests
Episode 30: Flowering Annuals, Perennials, and Invasive Multifora Rose
Episode 29: RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary and Dragonflies
Episode 28: Grassland Birds
Episode 27: Ordering Trees, Shrubs and Bulbs
Episode 26: Gardening with Kids
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