Bee Foraging Behaviour

I really liked this video and even if it went a little fast it was full of information. I learned that bees go up to half a mile away from the hive looking for food. That forager bees look randomly for food and that to give directions they do a dance that tells the other bees direction and distance. I was shocked by how smart bees seem to bee, they can count and they have an internal clock so they know what time it is at all times. I was also surprised to learn that they leave with only enough honey for the trip so it is really important that the forager bees gauge the distance correctly and that the others don't get lost.What I want to know is how long it takes the bees to gain experience.

Other Hive designs

I learned that this is a hot topic among bee keepers and that there is really not correct answer to which hive is better. I also learned that the Langstroth has a better chimney effect. That the top bar hive was Greek and first made in 1682. Finally the TBH makes less honey and it is harder for first time bee keepers but that it is cheaper and easy to make. What I want to know is why does the Top Bar Hive take less smoke.

Hive Design

I learned that the bees store the honey above the eggs at the top of the hive. The bottom of the deep is a screen so that dead bees don't fall out onto the ground. I also learned that the cover is metal. What I want to know is why is it important that the bees exit through the front of the hive.

Bee Yard Safety

I learned a lot about bees. I learned that bees dislike carbon dioxide, they prepare for evacuation ( in case of fire ) and that they don't like the smell of bananas, leather, or perfume. I had one question though how does the smoke work in calming the bees down.

Bee Lifecycle

I really enjoyed this document it was the most interesting information that I read. I learned that the larva are sealed into their cells, that the egg moves, vertically then bends over then lays on its side before it hatches, and lastly the larva sheds its skin five times between hatching and emerging. The only question I have is how can the pupa grow when it is sealed into the cell, because it doesn't eat.