Washboarding
Bees are funny critters. They seem so primitive in one way…in fact they are primitive having originated 35 million years ago. But in another sense, they are incredibly advanced. They communicate the location of food to each other through the “waggle dance”. They live in community (uncommon for insects) and they know how to do laundry.
Well, they don’t really do laundry because bees are naked. But if they wore clothes, they would know how to wash. See, bees do this funny thing called washboarding. In the bee world, washboarding is the term for when bees congregate on the outside of the hive in good numbers and appear to scrub the hive with their feet and tongues. It’s sort of difficult to describe so make sure you see the video.
(if that video doesn’t work on your machine, please try this one)
Bees that exhibit washboarding are apparently happy bees. The first time I saw it, I was sure that the bees were getting ready to swarm or attack my kids and wife, or maybe eat holes in the o-zone layer. It turns out that washboarding bees are pretty docile, in fact. I get mesmerized by watching their simple rhythmic behavior. It seems that all of the bees work in unison.
So, if you ever see bees washboarding, consider that this 35 million year old species is doing laundry now and may be ready to take over the planet in another 35 million years! They do appear to be benevolent so we may be ok though!
p.s. I am heading to the beach for a week starting tomorrow. This is how I feel:
See, you can tell by my exuberant “thumbs up” and my snazzy shirt!
This entry was posted in Bees, Nature and tagged Beekeeping, Honeybees, Nature by warren
I never knew that is what the bees were doing when I saw that…very cool!
Have a super time at the beach…and watch for sharks! Do you have sharks where you live? I suppose I should ask if you are going to the ocean beach or a lake beach or maybe a big river beach…anyway watch for sharks! Kim
.-= inadvertent farmer´s last blog ..Friday Funnies…Little Mister Smoothie! =-.
BTW…cool shirt!
.-= inadvertent farmer´s last blog ..Friday Funnies…Little Mister Smoothie! =-.
We’re headed to the ocean variety of beach and it’s deep south so I suppose there are sharks though we’ve only ever seen baby sharks…but still, I’ll be watching for sure! We see more dolphins that anything though!
Whew… you should warn people to put their sunglasses on before viewing that shirt!
Have a great time at the beach!
.-= Caprilis´s last blog ..Cancer Sucks =-.
Everyone will be able to see you coming!!! Maybe it will scare the sharks away. Have a great trip!!!
.-= Capri Kel´s last blog ..Let Me Give You a Visual =-.
Love the shirt!
Did I mention you were in my dream one night. Oddly enough you were driving a truck through a field of corn passing us (we were on the road). You waved and said, “Hey” and dove off. You sure made quite a mess of the farmer’s field, I bet he was mad! Kind of Weird. I guess I shouldn’t read blogs late at night right before I got to bed.
.-= Chiot’s Run´s last blog ..Rainy Days in the Garden =-.
Capris – I am proud of that shirt!! Much more proud than whomever donated it to Goodwill where I got it for $2!
Chiot’s Run – That sounds like the sort of dreams my wife always has…I laugh every time I hear what her brain has concocted the night before! Thanks for sharing!
Have Fun!!!
Bees clean-neat. Hope you guys have a great time at the beach!
.-= tipper´s last blog ..Father’s Day & Wisdom =-.
Loud, proud AND a bargain shopper…..DREAMY!!!
.-= Capri Kel´s last blog ..Potent Quotable =-.
Hope you guys have a great time!! My respect for Emily grows leaps and bounds….does she actually go out in public with you in that shirt?!
.-= farm mom´s last blog ..This and That =-.
Hope your vacation is great! Interesting bees!
.-= Evil Twin’s Wife´s last blog ..Hang Onto Your Seats! =-.