Death of a Honeybee

Posted by 5x5 on April 30, 2009 under Geek Talk | Be the First to Comment

Honeybee

This post is transferred from an old blog I had on LJ, dating 13 July 2008 @ 05:24 pm.

I had a miserable night sleep. Slaying zombies takes a lot out of a person. One day, I will learn not to watch horror flicks right before bed. The dream ended when I stopped running and started attacking the zombies instead. I suspect I conquered my fear, but I still woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

To enlivin my spirit, @base10 and I headed for Umstead State Park. A nice jog/walk was in order. Mushrooms were emerging nearly everywhere, I reminisced about the times I walked the trails with Rex, and fantisized about the enchanted forest. A Cooperhead played chicken with us on the trail. We bowed out and let him win, as he looked very lively, healthy and determined to win.

We decided to end our healthy 5 mile walk with a healthy meal. Off to Whole Foods we went. As @base10 paid the cashier, I got started on cleaning the table and taking a load off. As I began to wipe the crud from the table top and shoo the flies, I noticed a lone honeybee kicking around on the table. Thinking she got stuck in goo, I picked her up and took a look at her. No goo, but she was definitely injured. I wish I had the courage, compassion, or stupidity to have quickly squashed her like a grape and put her out of her misery. She was clearly suffering. Instead, I held her in my hands and stroked her as she continued to roll upside down, shiver and eventually passed away. For a brief period of time she was loved, whether she knew it or not.

We ate quietly and stared out the window, watch a friend of Ms. Bee buzz around the glass trying to get out. As we left the store, we swooped her up and took her with us. I can still hear her buzz as she broke free right before the exit and flew excitedly out the sliding doors. As for Ms. Bee, she was laid to rest in a basil plant outside the store.

Honey bees have been suffering an awful plight the last several years. In late June 2008 Burts Bees, Häagen Dazs and several others went to Capital Hill to discuss the issues facing the honey bee. Colony Collapse Disorder is wiping out these tiny creatures who add so much flavor to our lives.

Did you know:

Eating local honey can assist some people in overcoming allergies.
Bee venom has been used to treat arthritus and is being tested in Iran as a cure for MS.
Bee propolis may be good for various mouth sores and genital herpes
North Carolina Bee and Honey Act of 1977 “declares that it is in the public interest to promote and protect the bee and honey industry in North Carolina”.
There really is a Flight of the Bumble Bee (.pdf). It is much more elegant than the Chicken Dance

Here’s to my favorite stingy little creatures.