Page 117 - The Miracle of the Honeybee

Harun Yahya 115

Beginning the Search for a New Hive

The workers, who at other times forage for pollen, nectar or water, now
set about seeking a new site for their colony. They usually leave their hive
in late spring or early summer. In this season, pollen and nectar are plenti-
ful, temperatures warm and the Sun in the sky longer. These conditions
provide the necessary environment for a bee community to leave the old
hive.
In order to store energy before departure, the bees setting out to estab-
lish a new colony fill their stomachs with as much honey as they can, be-
cause they will have no time to visit flowers. As a result of this feeding,
their abdomens expand so much that their bodies lose the elasticity neces-
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sary to use their stings. This means that the bees are exceptionally peace-
able—important for the safety of human beings. Bearing in mind that
about half the colony will leave during swarming, an obvious danger
would otherwise be posed by 20,000 to 30,000 aggressive bees.

A swarm leaving the hive, with the old queen in the middle of the swarm. The colony will wait on
the tree until the scout bees show the other members where the new hive is located.

Adnan Oktar