Our world is a complex and sometimes disappointing place. This democratic experiment is no exception. The bees have been a welcome break from some of the news as of late. But as we've been learning about the honeybee and how their colonies function, I find myself unearthing what a good example they set for all of us. Here are just a few of the things that honey bees do that give me hope that if the bees can learn and adapt in such a positive way, so can we humans.

They work as a team

Each bee has a role in the keeping of the hive. Worker bees have progressively more responsibility throughout their lives and can revert back to any role if needed from nursing to queen attendant to undertaker, worker bees, drone bees and the queen bee all have a role to play and do so efficiently.

They are the ultimate patriot

Though each individual bee matters to the hive, the good of the whole is more important and therefore worthy of individual sacrifice. Chris has talked about the pheromones bees emit when they sting. This is to warn the other bees of potential danger. Their last act of patriotism is to die sending a message to their counterparts to beware to ensure the hive's survival.

They share resources with those that are different

The non-territorial honey bee indeed forages for pollen and often times from the same sources other competing foragers do. There is no competition from bees to other species of pollinators for resources or territory.

They cannot tell a lie

Through vibrations, dancing, and release of pheromones, bees communicate intricate messages throughout the hive. Without this communication, the location of food, signaling of nearby danger and reproduction in the hive would cease. The truth is their key to survival.

So we humans could take a lesson from our honey bee friends. That's all for now.

Thanks for listening to me buzz!

~The Beekeeper's Wife