Honey Bees' Ingenuity Keep Them Alive In The Tri-Towns And Beyond

CHESTER, CT — An environmental tip/ information nugget from the Chester Conservation Commission:

In recent years we in the U.S., and of course Chester, have been concerned about the high mortality rate of honeybees due to pesticides. parasites, and loss of habitat. However, on La Palma, a Canary Island, bees survived the recent volcanic eruption by sealing themselves in their hives using propolis (bee glue) which they make out of plants they collect. It is also used by all bees to plug tiny holes in their hives to keep out rain or droughts. The La Palma bees left one tiny hole for escape when the danger was passed, and they survived by eating the honey they had stored in the hives. These tiny animals who have been around for 100’s of thousands of years are amazingly tough and resourceful.

Interesting information!