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 21: Phenology
Episode 20: Flowering Bulbs
Episode 19: Community Gardens
Episode 18: Jumping Worms
Episode 17: Lawns and Turf Grass
Episode 16: Pollinators
Episode 15: Berkshire Botanical Garden
Episode 14: Poison Ivy
Episode 13: New York Breeding Bird Atlas
Episode 12: Holiday Plants
Episode 11: Seed Starting
Episode 10: Wildflowers and Foraging
Episode Nine: Perennials
Episode Eight: Maple Syrup
Episode Seven: Getting to Know Your Woodlands
Episode Six: Food Preservation
Episode Five: Understanding Seed Catalogs
Episode Four: Plants for Winter interest
Episode Three: Feeding Birds in Winter
Episode Two: Groundhogs and Other Furry Wildlife
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