I have just been given another of Mother Nature`s creations as a gift, and a very enjoyable one it is too.
It is a honeycomb, straight from the hive.
It wasn`t in a fancy package, or honey separated from the comb, it was just a square of natural unadulterated honeycomb in a plastic box.
It is only when one looks closely, that one can see the extraordinary feat that these little insects perform.
So many people dislike bees, as they obviously associate them with a nasty sting.
As humans, we develop all sorts of deterrents to guard our families and worldly goods.
The bees are no different. They have a lot at stake, so need to have effective ammunition!
I am not a bee expert, but suffice to say that bees, including honey bees, have been around for thousands of years. There are many types and can be found in different parts of the world.
They have long been associated with hard work, organization, collection of pollen and nectar, production of bees wax and ultimately the wonderful sweet honey, which along with the wax has many health giving properties.
The fact that honey bees can create the wax honey comb, and form it into a storage framework of perfect hexagonal shapes is amazing enough, but to produce honey from the collection of flower nectar and store it in the wax honeycomb is really quite remarkable.
Whilst the bees are collecting nectar from flowers, they are also collecting pollen from them and carrying it in little leg pouches. They then transfer the pollen to another flower which ensures cross pollination which is needed for the flowers to multiply and continue to grow.
In their wild state, bees choose locations for manufacturing their honey in trees and inaccessible areas to keep as far away from predators as possible.
As it is such a valued commodity and tastes so good, honey is highly sought after by both animals and humans alike.
Many people often take risks by climbing a tree to reach a bees` natural habitat and despite the threat of multiple stings, will attempt to steal away the wax comb with the honey within.
It is a valuable asset both for family and commercial uses.
Animals also attempt to ravage a bees` nest as the honey is so delicious.
Over the centuries some types of bees have become domesticated.
That means that humans provide a base known as a hive, where the bees can live.
They can be encouraged to produce wax on special frames which become the basis of the honeycomb.
During the winter when if is too cold for bees to move around outside and there is little in the way of flowers, they survive by eating the honey.
At this time, some bee keepers feed the bees a supplement of sugar candy to conserve the honey stocks.
When the bee keeper feels there is enough honey in the combs, it will be harvested.
The honeycomb can be used as it is, as in my gift, or filtered to separate the honey from the wax.
The wax can be used in many crafts including candle making, and the manufacture of emollient products, and the liquid honey can be stored in jars.
The work ethic of the bees is legendary, as during the year, the bees work relentlessly.
Life evolves around the queen bee which is larger than the others, and is responsible for producing eggs.
There are designated groups of bees with different tasks to perform known as the workers and drones.
The workers are sterile females which clean and maintain the hive whilst others go out and collect nectar.
The sole purpose of the drones is to mate with the queen, ensuring eggs for future bee stock.
Once selected, the queen bee will be fed royal jelly which is a super concentrated form of nutrition and is only fed to the queen.
The queen can live for several seasons, whereupon a new queen will be identified, fed royal jelly and produce a new generation of bees.
The whole system of honey production from breeding and nectar collection to maintenance of the hive is highly organized and efficient and is kept running smoothly by the bees.
Honey itself, apart from being really delicious to eat, is known to have many health improving properties. It is antibacterial, anti inflammatory, anti oxidant and is useful in wound care.
It is easily digestible and can be a valuable source of energy.
The wax also contains anti inflammatory, anti fungal and emollient properties.
Once again we must look to the natural world to realize how much work it does for us.
Without human intervention, these little bees are working away tirelessly to manufacture a nutritious food by not only making use of the nectar produced by flowers but by being responsible for the continuation of plant survival by cross pollination.
The reward that they often receive from humans is to be stamped underfoot, killed by a chemical spray or smoked out of their natural habitat. How very short sighted humans can be.
Sadly a new threat appears to be that of Asian hornets, which are deadly to the honey bee and have now been found to be able to survive a colder climate than was previously thought.
If honey bees disappear, it would mean that practically all vegetation would be affected.
Plants, flowers and trees would not be pollinated so would cease to multiply and grow, which would not only reduce the availability of food for animals and insects, but the human food chain too.
It seems that instead of preserving such a wonderful natural asset, humans would prefer to manufacture synthetic sweeteners loaded with additives from dubious sources.
Once again it is literally more food for thought and realising how important the natural world is and the amazing things available within it, and how essential it is to protect it.
