>>> PRESENTATION OF "D4K"
ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION

IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF

THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM
FOUNDATION.

COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE
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THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.

>> BEES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE ON EARTH.

THEY HELP POLLINATE PLANTS SO WE
HAVE FOOD.

HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT BEES?

WE STANDING BY WITH ANSWERS.

STAY TUNED.

"D4K" IS NEXT.

>> I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN.

WELCOME TO "D4K."

THE PLACE FOR SCIENCE.

BEFORE WE GO TO YOUR QUESTIONS,
LET'S LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE

ABOUT BEES.

A BEE IS AN INSECT, AND ALL
INSECTS HAVE THREE MAIN BODY

PARTS --
A HEAD, A THORAX, AND AN

ABDOMEN.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 20,000
DIFFERENT KINDS OF BEES ALL OVER

THE WORLD.

THE HONEY BEE IS THE MOST WELL
KNOWN.

A HONEY BEE HAS TWO ANTENNA TO
HELP THE BEE TOUCH, TASTE, AND

SMELL.

IT HAS A LONG TONGUE CALLED A
PROBOSCIS.

BEES USE IT TO SIP NECTAR FROM
FLOWERS.

A HONEY BEE HAS COMPOUND EYES,
WHICH MEANS THE EYES ARE MADE UP

OF MANY TINY PARTS.

HONEY BEES HAVE FOUR WINGS THAT
ALLOW IT TO FLY UP TO 10 HOURS A

DAY.

THAT BUZZ YOU HEAR IS THE SOUND
OF THE BEE FLAPPING ITS WINGS AT

OVER 200 TIMES A SECOND.

IT HAS A SPECIAL STOMACH TO HOLD
NECTAR, AND ITS BODY IS COVERED

WITH HAIR TO HELP PICK UP
POLLEN.

HONEY BEES HAVE BRIGHT STRIPES
TO SCARE ENEMIES AWAY, AND A

SHARP STINGER.

LIKE PEOPLE, HONEY BEES ARE
SOCIAL CREATURES.

THEY LIKE TO LIVE TOGETHER IN A
COLONY.

THE PLACE A HONEY BEE LIVES IS
CALLED A HIVE.

HIVES CAN BE IN TREES, IN THE
GROUND, OR IF THE BEES ARE BEING

RAISED BY BEEKEEPERS, THEY LIVE
IN BOXES LIKE THESE.

HONEY BEES LIVE A VERY BUSY
LIFE.

THE QUEEN BEE RULES THE HIVE.

SHE CAN LAY THOUSANDS OF EGGS IN
A DAY.

DRONES ARE MALE BEES.

THEY MATE WITH A QUEEN BEE.

THE REST ARE WORKER BEES, AND
THEY ARE ALL FEMALE.

THEY DON'T LAY EGGS.

THEY DO ALL THE OTHER JOBS.

HOUSEWORKER BEES MAKE THE HONEY
COMB CELLS YOU SEE IN A HIVE.

THESE CELLS ARE MADE OUT OF WAX
THAT COMES OUT OF THE BEE'S

BODY.

THE CELLS ARE MADE INTO A
SIX-SIDED HEXAGONAL SHAPE.

THE QUEEN BEE LAYS EGGS IN SOME
CELLS, AND OTHER BEES STORE

NECTAR AND POLLEN IN THE REST.

HOUSEWORKER BEES TEND THE EGGS
AS THEY HATCH INTO LARVA, AND

THEN INTO BABY BEES.

GUARD BEES PROTECT THE ENTRANCE
TO THE HIVE.

THEY MAKE SURE BEES FROM OTHER
COLONIES DON'T GET INTO THE

HIVE.

AND HOW DO THEY TELL A ROBBER
BEE FROM ONE OF THEIR OWN?

BY SMELL.

BEES IN A HIVE GENERALLY ALL
COME FROM ONE QUEEN, SO THEY ALL

SHARE HER SCENT.

SO GUARD BEES CAN SMELL A
STRANGER.

MOST WORKER BEES ARE FORAGERS.

THEY GO TO A FLOWER, SUCK OUT
THE FLOWER'S NECTAR, AND PICK UP

THE FLOWER'S POLLEN.

A HONEY BEE CAN VISIT THOUSANDS
OF FLOWERS EACH DAY, FILLING UP

ITS POLLEN POCKETS AND NECTAR
STOMACH, GOING BACK TO DEPOSIT

ITS COLLECTIONS IN THE HIVE, AND
THEN GOING BACK OUT FOR MORE.

THE PROCESS BENEFITS BOTH THE
BEES AND THE FLOWERS.

FLOWERS NEED POLLEN FROM OTHER
FLOWERS TO GROW SEEDS.

SO FLOWERS PRODUCE NECTAR AND
POLLEN TO ATTRACT BEES, AND THEN

BEES COME AND SPREAD POLLEN AS
THEY FLIT FROM ONE FLOWER TO

ANOTHER.

THE BEES GET THE FOOD THEY NEED,
AND THE FLOWERS GET THEIR POLLEN

SPREAD AROUND.

NOW, HOW DO YOU THINK THE HONEY
BEES TELL EACH OTHER WHERE ALL

THE FLOWERS ARE?

THEY DANCE.

AH, NO.

BEES FLY OUT OF THE HIVE IN A
CIRCULAR PATTERN TO FIND

FLOWERS.

WHEN ONE FINDS FLOWERS, IT GOES
BACK TO THE HIVE AND DOES A

DANCE.

IF THE FLOWERS ARE IN THE
DIRECTION OF THE SUN, IT DANCES

A FIGURE EIGHT PATTERN.

IF THE FLOWERS ARE TO THE RIGHT
OF THE SUN, IT RUNS UP AND DOWN

THE HONEY COMB TOWARD THE RIGHT.

IF THEY ARE ON THE LEFT, THE BEE
DANCES TOWARD THE LEFT.

THE FASTER IT DANCES, THE CLOSER
THE FOOD.

HONEY BEES ARE THE ONLY INSECT
THAT MAKES FOOD PEOPLE EAT.

HONEY COMES FROM THE NECTAR THE
BEES STORE IN THE HIVE.

THOUGH THE HONEY BEES ARE THE
MOST WELL-KNOWN, THERE ARE LOTS

OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF BEES.

THEY COME IN ALL DIFFERENT
COLORS AND LIVE IN LOTS OF

DIFFERENT PLACES.

THEY DON'T ALL MAKE HONEY, BUT
THEY ALL DO PLAY AN IMPORTANT

ROLE IN OUR ECOSYSTEM.

WITHOUT BEES AND THEIR
POLLINATION, PLANTS WOULDN'T BE

ABLE TO PRODUCE THE FOOD WE EAT.

SO BEES, FLOWERS, AND PEOPLE ALL
WORK TOGETHER.

ISN'T THAT SWEET?

JOINING ME NOW TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT BEES ARE RON

BITNER A PARTNER AT
INTERNATIONAL POLLINATION

SYSTEMS, AND OWNER OF BITNER
VINEYARDS IN CALDWELL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND ALSO JOINING US IS KIRK
TUBBS, OWNER OF TUBBS BERRY FARM

AND MANAGER OF THE TWIN FALLS
PEST ABATEMENT DISTRICT.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

OK, LET'S GO TO YOUR QUESTIONS.

>> MY NAME IS JOHN, I GO TO
DALTON ELEMENTARY, AND MY

QUESTION IS, WHY DO BEES
POLLINATE FLOWERS?

>> THE POLLEN IS THE PROTEIN
SOURCE THE EGG IS GOING TO BE

LAID ON.

IT'S A BENEFIT TO THE FLOWER
BECAUSE THEY MOVE POLLEN FROM

FLOWER TO FLOWER, SO THE SEEDS
WILL DEVELOP.

BUT IT'S STRICTLY A POLLEN
SOURCE, THE PROTEIN FOR THE BEES

TO LAY THEIR EGGS ON.

>> HI.

MY NAME IS LEDGER.

MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO BEES
STING?

>> LEDGER, IF YOU THINK OF HONEY
BEES AND HOW SMALL THEY ARE,

THEY HAVE TO PROTECT THEIR
WINTER FOOD.

AND SO THAT STINGER IS THEIR WAY
TO DEFEND IT.

AGAIN, THINK OF THINGS LIKE
BEARS THAT WANT TO BREAK IN AND

EAT THE HONEY.

THEY'VE HAD TO EVOLVE A WAY TO
PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST

SOMETHING BIG LIKE THAT.

BUT BEES DON'T LIKE TO STING
UNLESS THEY HAVE TO, BECAUSE

WHEN THEY STING, THEY DIE.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THEY SAVE
UNTIL THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO.

SOMETIMES IF YOU GO --
IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY STEP ON A

BEE IT WILL STING YOU BECAUSE,
WELL, IT FEELS LIKE IT'S DYING.

>> MOLLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY
IS THERE A QUEEN BEE?

>> IN THE HIVE, SHE'S THE ONE
THAT HELPS REGULATE THE HIVE.

SHE HAS HER SMELL, HER
PHEROMONES THAT CALMS AND

REGULATES ACTIVITY.

SHE LAYS ALL THE EGGS, WITHOUT
HER THE HIVE WOULD CEASE TO

FUNCTION.

THE INDIVIDUAL BEE IS NOT SO
IMPORTANT AS THE COLONY.

BEES WORK TOGETHER IN A BIG
GROUP.

SO EACH BEE IS IMPORTANT TO THAT
GROUP, BUT EACH BEE BY ITSELF

COULDN'T SURVIVE.

>> IN MY WORLD, IN MY BEES,
THERE'S NO QUEEN BEE.

THEY'RE SOLITARY BEES.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY LIKE THE
COMPANY OF OTHER BEES AROUND

THEM, BUT EACH FEMALE IS LAYING
HER EGGS, TAKES CARE OF HER OWN

BROOD, AND THERE'S NO QUEEN AND
THERE'S NO COLONY THERE.

>> MY NAME IS BRIDGETTE, MY QUESTION
IS, WHY DO BEES [INAUDIBLE]

>> IN THE INSECT WORLD, THE
INSECTS THAT HAVE WINGS, IT'S A

METHOD OF GETTING AROUND.

WITH BEES THEY HAVE FOUR WINGS,
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THERE ARE

SOME FLIES THAT LOOK LIKE BEES
BUT IF YOU WANT TELL THEM APART,

FLIES ONLY HAVE TWO WINGS.

IT'S STRICTLY FOR GETTING AROUND
AND FLYING THROUGH THE ORCHARDS

AND VINEYARDS.

BUT IT'S FOR FLIGHT.

>> WITH THOSE FOUR WINGS IT'S
LIKE A HELICOPTER.

THEY CAN GO AND LAND AND GO
WHERE THEY NEED TO, AND IT

ALLOWS THEM TO GET IN THERE AND
FIND THOSE FLOWERS AND GET WHAT

THEY NEED.

>> JASMINE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW,
DO BEES HAVE A FAVORITE FOOD?

>> JASMINE, BEES CAN TELL HOW
SWEET SOMETHING IS.

WHEN THEY TASTE IT.

AND SO IF THEY FIND A FRUIT OR
FLOWER THAT HAS A NICE NECTAR

THEY LIKE, THEY'LL GO BACK TO
THE HIVE AND TELL THE REST ABOUT

IT, AND THEY'LL COMPARE NOTES.

AND SO THEY'LL TEND TO GO TO THE
RICHEST NECTAR SOURCE, WHATEVER

HAS THE HIGHEST SUGAR
CONCENTRATION.

SO, YEAH, THEY DO HAVE FAVORITES
THEY'RE AT ALL THE TIME.

>> HI.

MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO BEES LIVE
IN HIVES?

>> THE HIVE IS JUST A PLACE TO
PROTECT THE BEES.

BEES LIVE TOGETHER IN A COLONY,
A BIG GROUP, AND THAT HIVE IS

SOME PLACE TO PROTECT THEM AS
THEY WORK TOGETHER.

SO THE HIVE CAN BE IN A TREE, A
BOX, WHEN I WAS A KID I REMEMBER

STORIES OF MY GRANDMA KEEPING
BEES IN A SUITCASE.

THE HIVE PROVIDES THE
PROTECTION.

>> ALEX WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, ARE
BEES INTELLIGENT AND DO THEY

PLAY?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

I'VE NEVER SEEN BEES PLAY, AND
THERE'S DIFFERENT FORMS OF

INTELLIGENCE.

WE REGARD THE HONEY BEE BECAUSE
OF HER BEHAVIOR, SHE CAN LEARN A

LOT, WORKERS CAN LEARN A LOT,
THEY CAN GIVE DIRECTIONS, THEY

HAVE THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.

WITH THE SOLITARY BEES, MOST
WHAT I SEE IS HARD-WORKING

FEMALE BEES, POLLINATING THE
FLOWERS, AND THE GUYS BEING GUYS

ARE OUT FLYING AROUND, CHECKING
THINGS OUT, THEY'RE ALWAYS DOING

SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT THEY
DON'T DIRECTLY POLLINATE THE

FLOWERS.

>> AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT
PLAY, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT BEES ARE

VERY SMART.

WHEN THEY WANT TO SEE WHICH ONE
CAN SMELL BETTER, A BLOODHOUND

OR BEE, THEY'RE NOT SURE.

HONEY BEES HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO
GO THROUGH MAYSES, TO FIND LAND

MINES FOR THE MILITARY, THEY'RE
REALLY SMART.

AND THEY'LL FIGURE STUFF OUT
REAL QUICK.

IN FACT, SOMETIMES WHEN I'M AT
THE HOUSE I'LL HAVE BEES, IF I

WAS FEEDING BEES AND THEY FIGURE
OUT I'VE BEEN PUTTING FEED OUT

WHEN THERE'S NO FLOWERS IN
BLOOM, I'LL HAVE BEES COME UP

AND BUZZ AROUND ME.

SOMETIMES IT'S A WAY TO SAY,
HEY, WE'RE OUT OF FOOD, COME

OVER HERE AND LOOK.

THEY LEARN WHO YOU ARE.

>> DID YOU KNOW THAT A BEE ISN'T
BORN KNOWING HOW TO MAKE MONEY?

YOUNGER BEES HAVE TO LEARN FROM
OLDER BEES HOW TO MAKE THIS

SWEET TREAT.

>> HI, MY QUESTION IS, HOW MANY
DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEES ARE

THERE IN THE WORLD?

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

IN THE WORLD THERE ARE MORE THAN
20,000 DIFFERENT KINDS OF BEES.

MOST PEOPLE THINK OF THE HONEY
BEE.

THERE'S 10 DIFFERENT KINDS OF
HONEY BEES IN THE WORLD.

WE JUST HAVE ONE KIND IN THE
UNITED STATES.

AND WE HAVE ABOUT 4,000
DIFFERENT KINDS OF BEES HERE IN

THE WESTERN STATES.

IN IDAHO WE HAVE SEVERAL
THOUSAND DIFFERENT KINDS OF

BEES.

MOST OF THE BEES DON'T LIVE IN
COLONIES, THEY'RE CALLED

SOLITARY BECAUSE THEY MAKE THEIR
OWN NEST.

MOST OF THE BEES NEST IN THE
GROUND.

SOMETIMES THEY NEST IN TUBES.

BUT THERE IS THAT BIG
DIFFERENCE.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT MORE OF THE
OTHER KINDS OF BEES.

THAT'S BEEN MY SPECIALTY,
STUDYING THESE OTHER LITTLE

BEES.

>> BRIAR WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW
DO BEES BUZZ?

>> THE BUZZ YOU HEAR IS THE
SOUND OF THEIR WINGS.

AND SO WHEN THEY VIBRATE THOSE
WINGS YOU'LL HEAR THAT BUZZING

SOUND.

IT'S REALLY NEAT, BECAUSE
SOMETIMES YOU CAN OPEN A HIVE OF

BEES AND HERE BY THE BUZZ
WHETHER THEY'RE HAPPY OR MAD.

SOMETIMES THERE'S DAYS WHERE
THEY'RE NOT VERY HAPPY AND THEIR

BUZZ WILL SOUND DIFFERENT.

AND SO AS THEY MOVE THE WINGS
YOU'LL HEAR THAT SOUND.

JUST LIKE YOU HEAR A BUZZ FROM
MOSQUITOES, EACH INSECT, HOW

THEY MOVE THEIR WINGS L. HAVE A
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SOUND.

>> MY NAME IS MACKENZIE, GUY TO
DALTON ELEMENTARY.

MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE BEES
DMORD HAIR?

>> IT'S A GOOD THING THEY ARE,
BECAUSE THAT HAIR IS WHAT HELPS

THEM COLLECT POLLEN.

IT STICKS TO IT, AND WHEN THEY
GO FROM FLOWER TO FLOWER, THAT

POLLEN GETS TRANSFERRED AROUND.

HONEY BEES ARE GOOD AT GOING
FROM THE SAME TYPE OF FLOWER, IF

THEY'RE WORKING ON WATERMELON
FLOWERS THEY STAY TO WATERMELON

FLOWERS.

SO THE HAIR HELPS THE POLLEN
STICK.

IT ALSO HELPS THEM TO PUT POLLEN
HAULED BACK TO THE HIVE.

>> WITH THE SOLITARY BEES, THERE
ARE 10 OR 12 DIFFERENT FAMILIES

OF BEES, AND THE WAY WE TELL
THEM APART IS WHERE THEY COLLECT

THE POLLEN.

THE HONEY BEE HAS A SPECIAL
COLLECTING POLLEN APP RAH TO US

HER LEGS.

MY BEES, THE FEMALES COLLECT THE
POLLEN ON THEIR STOMACHS.

DEPENDING ON WHERE THE POLLEN
HAIRS ARE IS HOW WE TELL THE

DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEES APART.

>> DO BEES GET ILLNESSES?

>> JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE,
EVEN LITTLE KIDS, A LOT OF

DIFFERENT DISEASES THEY CAN GET.

ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE
STRESSED.

THEY HAVE A SHORT LIFE SPAN,
THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD EVERY

DAY, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS
DISEASES THEY GET SICK WITH,

YES.

>> RIGHT NOW THERE'S A COUPLE
VIRUSES THAT AFFECT BEES

GREATLY.

THAT'S SOME OF THE CONCERN.

WHEN BEES GET SICK, THEY DON'T
LIVE AS LONG, THEY'RE NOT ABLE

TO WORK AS MUCH SO THE HYPHEN
HAS TROUBLE MAINTAINING ITSELF.

ONE OF THOSE DISEASES THEY GET
CAUSES THEIR WINGS TO BE

SHRIVELED UP.

THEY CAN'T FLY, SO THEY DIE REAL
QUICK.

ANOTHER ONE CAUSES THEIR HAIR TO
FALL OFF.

THIS VIRUS, THEY DON'T SURVIVE
THE WINTER VERY WELL.

I GUESS THE HAIR HELPS KEEP THEM
WARM A LITTLE BIT IN THE WINTER.

>> MY NAME IS CADEN, MY QUESTION
IS WHY ARE BEES BLACK AND

YELLOW?

>> NOT ALL BEES ARE YELLOW AND
BLACK.

HERE THE BEES YOU SEE ARE A
EUROPEAN HONEY BEE, AND WE HAVE

DIFFERENT STRAINS OF BEES, JUST
LIKE YOU SEE DIFFERENT KINDS OF

COWS.

YOU HAVE BLACK AND WHITE COWS,
AND BROWN COWS.

THERE'S EVEN DIFFERENT RACES OF
BEES.

SOME OF THE BEES WILL BE DARK,
ALMOST BLACK.

THOSBLACK.

THERE'S DIFFERENT OTHER ONES,
THERE WILL BE VARIATIONS ON THAT

COLOR.

>> MY NAME IS LUKE FROM DALTON
ELEMENTARY, AND MY QUESTION IS,

HOW DO BEES FIGHT OFF OTHER
BEES?

>> IN MY WORLD, BEES ARE TOTALLY
NONAGGRESSIVE.

THEY DON'T PARTICULARLY FIGHT
WITH OTHER BEES OR OTHER

INSECTS, TRYING TO GET IN.

THE HONEY BEE IS A LITTLE
DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY'RE

SOCIALIZED, I DON'T LIKE TO
THINK OF MY BEES AS DUMB, BUT

PRETTY MUCH OBLIVIOUS TO
EVERYTHING ELSE.

WITH HONEY BEE THERE'S ACTUAL
INTERACTION BETWEEN THE BEES.

>> OFTEN IN THE HONEY BEE, AT
THE HIVE YOU'LL HAVE GUARD BEES.

AND THEY'LL BE AT THE FRONT OF
THE HIVE AND THEY'LL CHECK ALL

THE BEES COMING IN AND OUT.

SOMETIMES YOU'LL HAVE BEES FROM
OTHER HIVES WANT TO SNEAK IN AND

STEAL STUFF.

AND THEY'LL STOP THEM.

AND THEY'LL JUST GRAB THEM AND
THROW THEM OUT.

IF YOU HAVE A WASP TRYING TO
SNEAK IN, THEY GRAB IT AND THROW

IT OVERBOARD.

THEY DO HAVE STINGERS AND
SOMETIMES THEY'LL STING OTHER

INSECTS OR BEES, BUT A BEE
STINGS, IT DIES, SO YOU DON'T

SEE THAT HAPPEN A LOT.

>> AMY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DO
BEES SLEEP?

>> DO THEY SLEEP?

YOU KNOW, THEY BECOME VERY
QUIET.

I'VE GONE OUT AT NIGHT AND
LOOKED, AND WHETHER THEY HAVE

THEIR EYES CLOSED, IT'S HARD TO
TELL.

THEY BECOME INACTIVE WHEN IT'S
COLD OR CLOUDY.

BUT THEY DON'T FLY AROUND AT
NIGHT AT ALL.

>> HONEY BEES, YOU'LL SEE A LOT
OF ACTIVITY IN THE HIVE EVEN AT

NIGHT.

CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR, A LOT
OF IT IS TEMPERATURE.

YOU'LL SEE THEM REST.

AND THEY'RE GOOD AT LEARNING
THAT CERTAIN FLOWERS BLOOM AT

CERTAIN TIMES, SO IF THIS FLOWER
BOOMS AT 10:00 AND HAS REALLY

GOOD NECTAR, THE BEES WILL HANG
OUT JUST LAYING AROUND RESTING,

MAYBE NOT SLEEPING, AND AT 9:49,
THEY ALL FLY OUT THERE TO THAT

FLOWER AND A LITTLE LATER
THEY'RE ALL BACK.

>> HI, AND WELCOME TO TUBBS
BERRY FARM.

WE'RE HERE WITH HEIDI.

TELL US WHAT YOU'RE WEARING.

>> I'M WEARING A BEE JACKET,
WHICH HAS A VEIL, AND YOU'RE

WEARING A VEIL.

AND THE REASON WE WEAR A VEIL IS
BECAUSE BEES ARE STINGING

INSECTS THAT HAVE EVOLVED, AND
AS PART OF THEIR PROTECTIVE

MECHANISM THEY FOCUS ON ANIMALS'
FACES TO STING THEM THERE, THE

EYES AND SO IF WE WEAR A VEIL
THAT HELPS PROTECT OUR FACES

FROM BEING STUNG.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT HONEY.

HOW DO YOU MAKE --
HOW DO YOU GET THE HONEY OUT OF

THE HIVE?

WHAT'S THE PROCESS?

>> THE BEES BRING IN NECTAR, AND
STORE IT ONCE THEY MIX IT WITH

THE ENZYMES, AND STORE 90 THEIR
CELLS, THEY EVAPORATE THE

MOISTURE OFF OF IT UNTIL IT'S
THE PERFECT MOISTURE CONTENT,

WHERE IT WILL NEVER GO BAD.

SO HONEY NEVER GOES BAD.

ONCE IT HITS THAT POINT, THEY
SEAL IT OVER WITH WAX.

AND WHEN IT COMES HARVEST TIME,
WE PULL THE HONEY OUT, TAKE A

KNIFE OR A SCRATCHER AND BREAK
THAT COATING OF WAX, AND THEN WE

CAN EITHER SPIN IT OR TURN IT
UPSIDE DOWN AND THE HONEY WILL

RUN RIGHT OUT OF THE CELLS.

>> ONE THING YOU OFTEN SEE BEE
KEEPS DO DO IS USING SMOKE.

WHAT'S THE SMOKE FOR?

>> THE SMOKE DOES A COUPLE
THINGS.

FIRST, BEES COMMUNICATE WITH
EACH OTHER BYP HEROMONES, BY

SCENT.

SO THEY CAN TELL EACH OTHER THAT
THERE'S AN INTRUDER OR SOMEBODY

IS IN A HIVE BY A SMELL.

WHICH ACTUALLY THE ALARM SMELL
SMELLS A LITTLE LIKE BANANAS.

SO THE SMOKE MAKES IT HARDER FOR
THEM TO PASS THAT SMELL AROUND

BECAUSE THEY WOULD SMELL SMOKE
INSTEAD.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT BEES
EVOLVED LIVING IN HOLLOWED TREES

AND CAVITIES, QUITE OFTEN IN
FORESTS.

SO FOREST FIRES ARE A BIG
PROBLEM, I GUESS FOR BEAST.

SO THEY'VE EVOLVED THAT WHEN
THEY SMELL SMOKE, THEY RUN TO

THE PANTRY, EAT AS FAST AS THEY
CAN, GETTING READY TO LEAVE.

BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR TREE IS
GOING TO BE BURNED DOWN SO THEY

HAVE TO LEAVE.

SO WHEN WE USE JUST A LITTLE
SMOKE, THE BEES ARE BUSY FEEDING

INSIDE THE HIVE SO THEY'RE NOT
PAYING AS MUCH ATTENTION TO US,

SO IT'S EASIER TO WORK THE BEES.

>> BEE KEEPING IS VERY
REWARDING.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

THEY'RE FASCINATING, SO WE DO
SPEND A LOT OF TIME JUST

WATCHING THEM.

>> IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A
BEEKEEPER, FIRST, LEARN A LOT,

IF YOU CAN.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD
INFORMATION OUT THERE.

AND ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERNET,
THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY BAD

INFORMATION OUT THERE.

AND THERE REALLY ARE AS MANY
WAYS TO KEEP BEES AS THERE ARE

BEEKEEPERS.

EVERY BEEKEEPER HAS THEIR OWN
OPINION ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO

TAKE CARE OF BEES.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF DISEASES
AND PROBLEMS AFFECTING BEES THAT

ARE FAIRLY RECENT IN THE LAST
CONGRESSMEN DECADES, SO IT'S

IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT THOSE
DISEASES TO KEEP YOUR BEES

HEALTHY AND SO YOU DON'T SPREAD
DISEASES TO OTHER BEES THAT

MIGHT BE AROUND YOU.

IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE ANOTHER BEEKEEPER THAT CAN

MENTOR YOU OR GET INVOLVED IN A
LOCAL BEE KEEPING ORGANIZATION,

READ AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, TAKE A
CLASS IF YOU CAN, AND JUST KNOW

THAT WHEN YOU DO GET STARTED
YOUR FIRST COUPLE YEARS WILL BE

HUGE LEARNING EXPERIENCES.

LOTS OF FUN, BUT YOU'LL LEARN A
LOT.

>> HEIDI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HAVING US.

I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME TO
SHOW US.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> LET'S GO BACK TO YOUR
QUESTIONS.

>> MY QUESTION IS, HOW FAR CAN
BEES FLY BEFORE THEY GET TIRED?

>> AGAIN, WITH THE SOLITARY
BEES, MY SPECIALTY ARE LEAF

CUTTER BEES, IF YOU'RE DRIVING
AROUND TREASURE VALLEY YOU'LL

SEE SHELTERS WHERE THE BEES ARE
NESTING.

AT THE TYPICALLY FLY LESS THAN
FOUR OR 500 YARDS.

THEY'RE NOT STRONG FLYERS.

I ALSO WORK WITH ALKALAID BEES
AND BUMBLE BEES AND THEY'LL FLY

FIVE OR SIX MILES, BUT THE
STRONGEST FLYERS ARE THE HONEY

BEES.

>> UNLESS THEY'RE HEADING BACK
TO THE HIVE, BEES OFTEN JUST

BOUNCE AROUND A LOT.

THEY'LL GO TO A FLOWER, LOOK
AROUND, GO TO ANOTHER SPOT.

I TELL PEOPLE MOST OF THE HONEY
FROM THAT HIVE COMES FROM THE

NEAREST MILE.

IF THERE'S NOT MUCH IN THAT AREA
THEY'LL GO THREE MILES OR FIVE

MILES, AND WHEN I'M RAISING
QUEENS, THEY'LL FLY AS FAR AS

EIGHT MILES TO GO MATE.

>> HOW DO BEES MAKE HONEY SWEET?

>> THE BEES DON'T ACTUALLY MAKE
IT SWEET.

THE FLOWERS ARE THE ONES THAT
PRODUCE THE NECTAR AND THE BEES

AS THEY GATHER THE NECTAR AND
PUT IT THROUGH THEIR HONEY

STOMACH AND HAUL IT TO THE HIVE
THEY PRESERVE IT.

SO DEPENDING ON WHAT THE NECTAR
SOURCE IS, HONEY WILL HAVE

DIFFERENT FLAVORS.

IF YOU HEAT HONEY TO HIGH
TEMPERATURE, YOU LOSE SOME OF

THE FLAVORS.

BUT WHEN YOU TASTE RAW HONEY OUT
OF A HIVE, IT WILL BE VERY

DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE
FLOWER.

WE HAVE RASPBERRIES, WHEN
THEY'RE IN BLOOM WE'LL HAVE

RASPBERRY BLOSSOM HONEY THAT
TASTES DIFFERENT, AND THEY HAVE

ORANGE TREES, THEY'LL GET ORANGE
BLOSSOM HONEY.

SO IT WILL HAVE ITS OWN FLAVOR
AS WELL.

>> HI.

MY NAME IS ZANDER, I GO TO
DALTON ELEMENTARY.

MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO MALES
HAVE TO ALWAYS BE DRONES AND NOT

FEMALES?

>> THE BOY BEING ARE CALLED
DRONES.

AND THAT'S JUST HOW IT IS.

THE COOL THING ABOUT THE DRONES
IS AT LEAST IN HONEY BEES, THEY

HAVE THESE BIG ROUND EYES, SO
THEY'RE EASY TO SPOT.

BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A STINGER.

SO MY KIDS ALWAYS KEEP THEM AS
PETS, BECAUSE THEY CAN PACK THEM

AROUND, THERE'S NO STINGER.

AND THERIOT DRONES.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY WORK.

THEY'RE WELCOME AT ANY HIVE,
THEY COME AND GO AS THEY PLEASE.

THE BAD THING IS, WHEN WINTER
COMES THEY KICK THEM OUT AND

THEY DIE.

>> ELEANOR ASKS, WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THE QUEEN DIES?

>> WELL, THEY'LL USUALLY RAISE
UP A NEW QUEEN.

ANY OF THOSE --
ALL THOSE EGGS THAT ARE LAID

FOR WORKERS, THEY CAN --
IF IT'S UNDER THREE DAYS OLD F.

THAT LARVA IS UNDER THREE DAYS
OLD, SHE CAN BE FED A SPECIAL

DIET OF ROYAL JELLY AND THEY
TREAT HER DIFFERENT, AND IT'S

RAISED INTO A NEW QUEEN.

AND WITHOUT THE QUEEN, THE HIVE
DOESN'T FUNCTION.

THAT QUEEN IS REQUIRED TO LAY
THE EGGS TO KEEP EVERYTHING

GOING, AND SO IT'S AN EMERGENCY,
WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE A QUEEN,

THEY HURRY UP AND RAISE A NEW
QUEEN.

>> HI, MY NAME IS ELIZA, AND I
GO TO DALTON ELEMENTARY.

HOW LONG DOES AN AVERAGE BEE
LIVE?

>> MY LITTLE BEES TYPICALLY LIVE
FOR FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.

SOMETIMES PART OF THE EGGS THAT
ARE LAID WILL HATCH OUT INTO A

SECOND OR A THIRD GENERATION, SO
YOU MIGHT SEE THE BEES FLYING

ALL SUMMER, BUT THE ORIGINAL
FEMALE LIVES FOR ONE MONTH

TYPICALLY, SOMETIMES FIVE WEEKS.

>> IN HONEY BEES, WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THE QUEEN BEE, SHE CAN LIVE

QUITE A LONG TIME.

QUEENS WILL LIVE THREE, FOUR,
FIVE YEARS EVEN.

OFTEN TIMES IF THE 16 FAILING
THE BEELESS REPLACE HER.

BUT WORKER BEES, THE MORE WORK
THEY DO THE LESS TIME THEY LIVE.

SO BEES IN THE SUMMER, THEY
MIGHT LIVE A MONTH.

BEES THAT ARE RAISED UP IN THE
FALL THEY'LL LIVE ALL THROUGH

THE WINTER.

THEY'RE JUST HANGING OUT,
THEY'RE NOT DOING A LOT OF WORK.

SO IT'S A RELATIVELY SHORT LIFE
SPAN.

>> WHERE DO BEES LIVE?

>> WELL, HONEY BEES SEEK OUT
SOME SORT OF CAVITY TO BUILD

THEIR COLONY IN.

SO BEEKEEPERS WILL KEEP THEM IN
BOXES.

THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF
HIVES.

YOU'LL FIND THEM IN A HOLLOW
TREE, A LOG SOMETIMES, AND I

THINK MY GRANDMA AT ONE TIME HAD
BEES INSIDE A SUITCASE.

>> WITH THE BEES I WORK W. THE
SOLITARY BEES, MOST OF THOSE

BEES NEST IN THE GROUND.

THEY BURROW HOLES IN THE SOIL TO
NEST.

THE BEES I SPECIALIZE IN HAVE TO
FIND A CAVITY.

IN NATURE THAT CAVITY IS,LY A
BEETLE HOLE, OR CRACKS IN WOOD

OR SOMETHING.

BUT WHEN WE MANAGE THE BEES FOR
SEED PRODUCTION WE DRILL HOLES

IN WOOD AND PUT THEM OUT AND
THAT'S WHAT THE BEE NESTS IN.

>> MY NAME IS BEN, AND I GO TO
DALTON ELEMENTARY IN HAYDEN,

IDAHO.

MY QUESTION IS, WHY DOES A BEE
STING HURT?

>> WELL, AGAIN, WHEN A BEE
STINGS IT HAS A POISON SACK.

AND A BEE STINGER HAS BARKS ON
THE END OF IT.

AND SO IT POKES IN AND HOLDS ON
AND THEN IT RELEASES THAT

POISON.

AND IT HURTS.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DO
SO YOU WON'T WANT TO MESS WITH

BEES AGAIN.

IT'S A WAY THEY PROTECT
THEMSELVES.

ANIMALS GET STUNG BY BEES
REMEMBER THAT, SO THEY DON'T

MESS WITH THEM AGAIN.

>> IF A STUDENT IS INTERESTED IN
STUDYING ABOUT BEES, WHERE

SHOULD THEY GO?

>> I CAN TALK ABOUT MY CAREER
PATH.

I'M A GRADUATE OF THE COLLEGE OF
IDAHO, I HADN'T CONSIDERED

STUDYING BEES, BUT I GOT A GRANT
TO GO TO PURDUE UNIVERSITY TO

STUDY THE KINDS OF BEES IN
INDIANA.

AND THERE I JUST FELL IN LOVE
WITH ALL THE BEES THAT WERE OUT

THERE.

BEING FROM IDAHO, I MISSED
MOUNTAINS.

SO I CAME BACK OUT TO UTAH STATE
AND THERE'S ACTUALLY FIVE OR SIX

USDA BEE LABORATORIES AROUND
UNITED STATES.

BUT I CAME TO THE LOGAN
LABORATORY BECAUSE THEY DON'T

STUDY HONEY BEES, THEY STUDY THE
OTHER KIND.

SO I DID MY PH.D. WORK ON THE
LEAF CUTTER BEE.

SO THERE'S ALL LEVELS OF
EDUCATION OUT THERE.

SOME OF THE MOST HIGHLY
INTELLIGENT PEOPLE WHO

UNDERSTAND BEES ARE 80-YEAR-OLD
BEEKEEPERS WHO JUST HAVE LEARNED

IT THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, BIOLOGY, GRADUATE
SCHOOL YOU CAN GET STRICTLY INTO

INSECTS IF YOU WANT, AND
UNDERSTAND ENTYMOLOGY.

THERE'S SUCH A DEMAND ON
INSECTS, BUGS IN GENERAL IT'S A

GOOD AREA TO STUDY.

>> WHAT IS IT ABOUT BEES THAT
GOT YOU STARTED?

>> I'VE ALWAYS LIKED THEM.

MY SISTER TELLS A STORY I USED
TO HAVE A PET BEE, AND IT NEVER

STUNG ME, BUT OF COURSE IT STUNG
HER.

BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED,
BUT THERE WAS LOTS OF THEM

AROUND.

FOR YEARS I WANTED BEES, BUT I
COULDN'T QUITE JUSTIFY IT.

MY WIFE WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED,
IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE

HAZARDOUS TO HAVE AROUND THE
HOUSE AND STUFF.

WITH OUR BERRY FARM WE STARTED
HAVING POLLINATION PROBLEMS.

AND SO THAT WAS MY EXCUSE, AND
IT'S GONE FROM THERE.

BUT IF SOMEBODY IS INTERESTED IN
BEES, IT'S REALLY NOT THAT HARD

TO START A HIVE.

AND TO GET STARTED.

AND YOU'LL LEARN A LOT JUST FROM
OBSERVING.

WATCHING THOSE BEELESS TEACH YOU
A LOT.

AND GO TO SCHOOL AND STUDY
BIOLOGY, TAKE THOSE CLASSES.

I STUDIED WILDLIFE BIOLOGY AND A
LOT OF THE SAME THINGS I LEARNED

IN WILDLIFE ARE APPLICABLE TO
BEES.

>> WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

THANKS TO RON AND KURT FOR
JOINING US.

YOU CAN LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT
BEES AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC TOPICS

ON THE "D4K" WEBSITE.

WE'LL ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS
ABOUT BEES ON THE "D4K" WEB-ONLY

SHOW.

IF YOU WANT TO SUMMIT A QUESTION
TO "D4K," YOU AND YOUR CLASS CAN

WIN PRIZES TOO.

YOU CAN SEND YOUR QUESTION AS AN
EMAIL OR AS A VIDEO QUESTION.

RECORD OUT YOUR WEBCAM OR CELL
PHONE.

IF YOU'RE AN EDUCATOR, WE'LL
EVEN LEND ACAMERA.

LAST MONTH'S PRIZE WINNER WAS
RYAN FROM MRS. NUKAYA'S CLASS AT

WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY IN IDAHO
FALLS.

TO FIND OUT ALL ABOUT BEES, HOW
TO ?END YOUR QUESTION AND HOW TO

WIN, GO TO THE "D4K" WEBSITE.

EACH WEEK CHECK OUT MY SCIENCE
BLOG FOR THE LATEST SCIENCE NEWS

FO KIDS.

YOU'LL FIND IT ALL AT
IDAHOPTV.ORG/D4K.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON
"D4K."

THE PLACE FOR SCIENCE.

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>> PRESENTATION OF "D4K" ON
IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE

POSSIBLE BYE THROUGH THE
GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA

MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION.

COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE
MOORE FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING

THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.

>> IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THIS TOPIC OR WATCH OUR

VIDEOS, CHECK OUT THE "D4K"