The honey sold in your local shop come from Honey Bees. The brain of a bee is the same size of a sesame seed. Research shows that they have many similar characteristics of the human brain, including learning and memory.
There are over 15000 bee species in Australia.
Bees are vegetarian – they feed on nectar or pollen. In the winter months they feed on honey reserves as there is no pollen.
Only producing about 1 teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.
The beehive consists of:
- Workers – Gather the pollen
- Drones – Fertilise the Queen
- Queen – Lays the eggs and is the largest of the three types in the hive
Not only do bees produce honey, but also bees wax, pollen and venom.
- Bees wax for candles and cosmetics
- Pollen which is a valuable nutrient
- Bee venom can be used to relieve arthritis.
Bees wax can withstand temperatures of up to 60 degrees Celsius.
Honey is also very nutritious. It contains 80% glucose, 17% moisture and 3% minerals.
Bees play a major role in our world. Without them we wouldn’t have any cross pollination, which means that we wouldn’t have fruit and vegetables, and most of all delicious honey.
** WARNING ** Bee stings can be fatal to those who are allergic.
(©2018 DPIRD)