Chapter
Bee Colonies as Superorganisms
23:51 - 27:56 (04:05)
The collective actions and instincts of bees form a larger superorganism, the colony, with the queen's job being to keep the colony optimistic and lay and fertilize eggs. Beekeeping usually involves the species Apis mellifera (European or Western honeybee).
Clips
This podcast discusses the different species of bees found in the world, with a specific focus on Apis mellifera, which is either the European or the Western honeybee.
23:51 - 25:17 (01:25)
Summary
This podcast discusses the different species of bees found in the world, with a specific focus on Apis mellifera, which is either the European or the Western honeybee. It highlights the different varieties of the species which are called races, and how they form what is called a superorganism.
ChapterBee Colonies as Superorganisms
EpisodeSelects: The Ins and Outs of Beekeeping
PodcastStuff You Should Know
From hive mind to worker bees, a bee colony is an emergent property of the collective actions and instincts of its constituents.
25:17 - 27:31 (02:14)
Summary
From hive mind to worker bees, a bee colony is an emergent property of the collective actions and instincts of its constituents. The queen bee plays a crucial role in laying fertilized eggs and keeping the colony going and optimistic through pheromones.
ChapterBee Colonies as Superorganisms
EpisodeSelects: The Ins and Outs of Beekeeping
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The queen bee is responsible for laying up to a million eggs in her lifetime, up to 1,500 per day, to keep the colony's population going.
27:31 - 27:56 (00:25)
Summary
The queen bee is responsible for laying up to a million eggs in her lifetime, up to 1,500 per day, to keep the colony's population going. While she is essential to the hive, the other bees ultimately decide when it's time for a new queen to be born.