Honeybee Hives
Thanks to Memphis Area Beekeepers Association
Two separate honeybee colonies live in hives outside the WaterWORKS! windows for safe observation. Each hive has “glass” walls turned toward the window to allow visitors to “see inside the world of the honeybee.” Fun, hands-on bee activities include an indoor hive to take apart, beekeeper suits to try on, books, educational cards and bees in acrylic to study up close. A “Honeybee Facts” sign allows children to learn about this fascinating insect: honey is the only human food made by insects; to make one pound of honey, worker bees must fly 55,000 miles and visit two million flowers; one-third of our food is the result of bee pollination; the worker bees, which are all female, do all the work for the hive; honeybees have five eyes, four wings and never sleep; in one nectar and pollen gathering trip, a worker bee will visit 50-100 flowers; the way bees are designed, they should not be able to fly, but they can; a worker bee will produce 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime; one bee colony can produce 60-100 pounds of honey per year; and more!
