We all know about the plight of the bee and how it is being affected by global warming. The roles and responsibilities of honeybees are fascinating! Every bee in the hive has a part to play in the survival and success of their kind, to continue to reproduce, build up food, sanitize, and protect the hive for future prosperity.  

 

The queen bee is the most important bee in the hive. She is the only fertile female within the hive. She is about twice the size of the worker bees. Her primary job is to produce and lay eggs.

 

Drones are the male bees in the hive. They are actually hatched from an unfertilized egg in a process called arrhenotokous parthenogenesis. They also look different and have a larger body and no stinger. Their sole purpose is to mate and care for the queen bee.

 

The worker bees consist of the largest population in the hive and every one of them is female. They have a complex role in the hive and work together to complete the tasks at hand. The most common role for these bees is foraging for pollen to bring back to make honey, which provides food for the hive.

 

Some worker bees roles are as nurse bees. They are responsible for looking after pupa as well as taking care of sick bees. They will “prescribe different types of honey to other bees depending on their infection” (Gray, Oct. 2014). If necessary, they will remove a sick bee from the hive to prevent the entire hive from getting ill.

 

Another role of the worker bee is cleaning the hive. All bees leave the hive to relieve themselves in order to keep the hive clean and sanitary, except the queen. She will stay inside the hive her entire life. Therefore, cleaning is necessary. These bees will also clean out bees that have died in the hive and other foreign matter.

 

Guard bees protect the entrance into the hive. They walk back and forth in front of the entrance and make sure no one enters that shouldn’t.

 

Temperature control is another vital responsibility of the worker bees. A hive is generally kept between 32 - 35 degrees Celsius in order for the brood to develop and hatch. If the hive needs to be heated, these bees will vibrate their bodies in such a way that it raises their body temperature, thus warming the hive. If the hive needs to be cooled, they will gather water droplets on their back to bring back into the hive.

 

About the making of this sculpture

 

The technique used in making this sculpture is called Silver Staining made up of silver nitrate it was accidentally discovered by a monk in the 13th century. The density of the application as well as the length of time and temperature it is fired at, determines the colour produced, varying from a light yellow to dark amber. Unlike enamels silver stain is unique in that it does not simply adhere to the surface of the glass but impregnates the glass causing a transparent stain thereby changing the colour of the glass, this was revolutionary as no other enamel or pigment can do this, craftsman could now brighten reds, turn blues to green and give natural highlights without the restraint imposed previously of having to use a separate section glass to change colour which had to then be joined by lead.

 

Lets consider the slogan If I go I will take you with me.