The Undesigned Chapter, pt XI / "The Bees"

 

”If the bee became extinct,

man would only survive few years beyond.”

...(Claimedly) said by Einstein (Albert, 1879-1955;  'that eccentric physician who revolutionized our ideas about the universe')

(Seems to me...there's so many 'idioms' that've been asserted said by Einstein, would probably be more secure not claim this actually his words. But, what the h-ll, contains a nice piece of wisdom. At this particular case - no matter who said that actually - expresses in a few words essentials from what tried outline on bit wider scope at this text by us).

 [...Visiting sunflower ; Some of the commonest bumble-bees, apparently - For I observed the frequent arrivals for my garden at least from June 'til late Summer...]

So, (About) the hymenoptera ; ...ie the species from social/eusocial-bees and -wasps, sawflies, ants, parasitoids, ao, the multitudes from their various subgroups/-families. (Mostly this is about the bees, though.)

; ...Acc. to that excellent book on pollination by Buchmann-Nabham, the taxonomists have found to exist (globally):

”...about 25,000 bees and at least 4,000 wasp species active in pollination among the 103,000 known Hymenoptera species. This latter taxonomic group of bees and wasps contributes one out of every ten animal species now inhabiting the earth.” 

 (Further of that they then seem say it estimated that maybe about 40,000 separate bee species to exist. ; ...At 1996, so perhaps these figures might by now represent slight underestimate, and must've been upward calculated since that timing.) 

 

In spite of my any reservations of that amount - still correct numbers or not - makes it quite clear and obvious that the honey-bees only consist a slightest bit from all that great ecological variety amongst bees. Even while they're so important on many human agricultural cultivations (; tomatos and eggplants, the greenhouses and orchards, fx, etc.) - And soforth, the major pollinators of the flowering plants contain a larger bunch other tribes too (...of the bees, the solitary bees perhaps mostly, but also birds, bats, and several other insects, not the least means also the beetles). In brief, seems it also correctly pointed from that: 'The honey-bee is not any ecological panacea concerning the human agriculture' (...or smtgh like that – at the moment, I can't seem find my notes about the sentence on this book referred, so let's leave it for mention... )

 [...Right above ; Honey-bee, on some of my garden lilies. Several other spec. visited that too...)

Nevertheless, like many people, personally I like to use honey (of the domesticated bee, Apis mellifera, w. sbps – on this case meaning the European honey bee). And why not – it's fx lot more healthy than most other sugarines. On the small-scale manufacture, the production is also not any ecological burden. Many people keep nests for an additional income, etc. On local levels, of the smaller amounts, I find that, mostly only favorable blessing. Indeed, the human and bee relation has a long history. However – concerning most any larger commercial activities – I don't find, ecologically thinking, that quite the same would be true from most larger agricultural production (/our modern times massive cultivations and the nest-keeping/ 'pollination-industry' adjoining that). 

 

 [...Above ; Some of the commonest bumble-bees also, at the Cornflower. /

Below ;  Quite usual small  bee as well - Pictured that on suburban roadside, at mid-summer. ]

(...About) the Man ; In brief, I think sometimes/recently a lot discussed CCD (Colony collapse disorder) of the (honey-)bees is only a singular symptom among many aspects traceable to the effects from long-term growth of the human agricultures over it's sustainable limits, often leading consequently to an ecological imbalance. Aforementioned means various aspects in concerning the bees; ...Fx, the long lasted pesticides use (at human agricultures), but as well – not necessarily or even mainly any agricultural side-consequence - so called urban sprawl. And, fx there's also possibility/at least is imaginable of various genetical threats might araise consequently (whether them are yet even recognizable or not), ...etc. By now the main reasons and causes of above mentioned problem (CCD) likely are already more profoundly investigated and understood, maybe, but I only think all of that actually like very logical reactions concerning the insects itself. They're from many ways delicate beings. (Albeit, the honey-bees seem mentioned for more disease vulnerable compared to most other species, even excluding the fact that there's also aspects traceable on their long cultivation at the human domestication.)

So, for a neat compromise, myself I've fx decided to keep it for rare exception (almost never, or say very scarcely), from buying any imported honey products. Sometimes that's not even mentioned in the packet, on which case also I don't usually buy the staff...unless I find it otherways logical assume the retailer brought it from production acceptable acc. my criteria. Everything affects everything, in other words said. (I also fx buy the maize only from organically grown production, nowadays.)

Seems also true there's probably not any other insect species, ever been so important to humans at their (domesticated) use than bee(s). (; With the possible exception from the Silk Moth (Bombyx mori), ...which seems been nearly so important, due from it's domestication permitted manufacture of silk. Also it's, in fact, the sole other insect species that ever was more widely domesticated, either historically or culturally. ...More precisely, means actually the silkworm of course, the larvae of the moth - briefly quoting from the Wikip.: ”Silkworms were first domesticated in China over 5000 years ago. Since then the sillk production capacity of the species has increased nearly tenfold.” ; Ie, compared for the bees(-keeping), it's quite likely their (Bombyx mori) past domestication having had more effect on the species actual genetical combination/evolution. However, geographically, that 'industry' (at least formerly) always was lot less widespread.)

 [...Above ; This is probably some from the very largest species: An impressive, robust creature - Observed that on Alpine Catchfly flowers (...sbp alpina.) - The plant has quite interesting range on Finlands, by the way; Seems it's common from southern edge of country and also at North Lapland...but lot rarer in the midst.]

; But, nowadays I can also imagine there being various cases of nearly similar importance (for humans), and various forms of agriculture taking benefit of these 'insect-human partnerships'. Either experimented or planned. Or, otherways resembling practices; ...Think about the genetics, fx (the Fruit flies). Or, also the organic farming and natural pest control. (Ladybirds, for example.) Even the organic farming can and probably has some affluence for various species in question...while it's of course not any domestication, in the stricktest sense of the word. (Naturally, I don't also view it for any cause of ecological harm, merely means the opposite. Budup, what the man does always have impact on anything he chooses interfere with.) However, fx on the large-scale agricultures, the bumble-bees as well can be mentioned on this, for they are widely used as pollinations agents on greenhouses, purely means the use their domesticated use, very effectively and often very commercially.

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 [...On the right: A parasitoid-spec. - The presence of it nearby my garden could be a sign from rich ecological variety at my neighbourhoods, But their also rarer see, adults live only brief period. (...It's 'bigger sister' also apparently was from great help to my gardening by harassing the moth caterpillars - Parasitoids are said important for ecology due that they limit the other species populations from not over-populating too effectively. Also are the first species that disappear if 'host'-species decline more significantly.)]     

Yet, while human actions cause great harms for the insects - as well as to number other animal spec. - there's actually nothing we'd probably could invent that could wipe out the insects completely, I believe. More likely it all just ends up adding to our own harms (That potentially hazardous chemical pollutative load. ...There's examples from it, a lot, seem they say.) At the 1990s, fx, when the various toxics et similar, were probably generally more widely used on pesticides than nowadays, this concern (on the above referred Buchmann-Nabham book) was expressed via this powerful 'metaphora': ”The severity of pollinator declines resulting from insidious connection between land clearing and deadly chemicals is not likely to be known for decades. But there is no doubt that the rainforest is being cut down equally effectively by both metal and 'chemical' chainsaws.” (p. 141) ...Mostly the topics from that would be slighly off the scope of our writing here, though...so we move on. (Yet, I can't but recommend that book mentioned for anyone. Also read the pages adjacent for these quoted paragraphs.) 
 

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  [...Above ; Of the most enchanting looking-spec, ...The yellow frontside and red-orange from rear. Only seems fly on a few weeks during the warmest season, though. ]

'We take a look around.' (...or, what I've learned about bees myself.) ; ...Mentioning bumble-bee(s), then reminds me about how much I just happened to enjoy watching the bumble-bees at their natural environment during previous summer. (Most species at pics probably were photographed at my own backyard, but then also there's many pictured on nearby semi-natural forests, also parks and orchards, ao. Actually, very few of these I saw at any wilderness areas (ie on any actual forested landscape). Quite clearly they're not anyhow scarcer there, but appear perhaps less often noticed than from the'semi-open'. ; ...Bumble-bees are also most easiest recognizable group from hymenoptera at these Northern soils. During some warm summer day are very observable almost anyplace where's some vegetation. (Means also that at the Fennoscandian latitudes, bumble-bees are the best adapted species among bees for cold spell – Actually there's not the usual (wild) honey-bees in the Natures here. Of course there's many various groups from solitary bees. But all from the honey-bees are maintained at nests kept on human purposes.) Perhaps interesting also that at Northern temperate zone hymenoptera also contains largest amount singular species from any insect groups, indiffering from how that is that on warmer latitudes.

...So, not any wonder majority of pics alongside are from bumble-bees. More widescale asssortment about variety hymenopteran families would've of course been more informative (...various genera and tribes. Any of the singular spec. here, also could've been easily identified, but didn't have time for that...see of the precise genera by yourself, if you have...it's not likely even too difficult nowadays with modern internet and the intelligent search-engines provided.)

  [...On the left ; Also a bumble-bee, on some Toadflaxes...]

...To me these lovely creatures however have far more importance than any of pics could superficially represent; Meaning both (their) emotional and affectionate importance. Fx, I remember very lively circumstances from each of these. I mean, how was the particular atmospheric conditions/climate on that particular time from the day any picture was taken. The weather (mostly these were flying during sunshine, of course), and what the particular season/time from year it was. And likewise of the surrounding environments – the plants especially; Was it a grassland/heathland/rocky hillsides/messy wild growth vegetation on the roadside, fx, etc. Luckily we have these modern cameras that make so marvelous pictures, it helps to observe and to recollect such enchanting memoirs, easily and nicely.

Watching these species at previous summer, I (personally) also learnt to know them better. By learning to know them better - not just from photographing, but observing - I think, I've also learnt to understand them better. Not just from that they're very benefial concerning my gardening/farming tasks, from pollinating many plants at garden and annihilating numerous pest species (...ao other their prey items). But, I also learnt understand that them to behave just due because their own very natures. ...Some of the species I was able watch just for a brief moments; The bee having sipped nectar from some flower fx, then subsequently flying away just as quickly as it had appeared. Some I watched staying on more long-term stay at certain flower(s). ; And, fx I remember, very lively, the loud buzzing of the bumble-bees on a springtime morning at the blooming willows I was watching. Even knowing they have no sting - unlike the wasps et some other social bees - are completely harmless, that felt quite thrilling. Nevertheless I also was able catch a very vivid impression; That them are, like all the hymenoptera, of their very nature born to some furious breed. ; ...And there were of course multitude of similar enchanting experiences, some rather usual and common-place, but also many interesting and lively.

  

 [...On the left ; Typical forest wasp ('yellow-jacket'). ...There's actually several quite resembling-looking genera. Most fennoscandian species are perhaps (relative) "tame", when compared for their many tropical cousins. - Some of the species nest at ground-burrows and don't seem much pay attention for nearby-walking, acc. my noticing. (...However, the better known that make those circular waxed nests do and don't tolerate the observer from too close the nest....) ; But, on a forest walk this creature happened land close by for wooden log. Of politely, I then took this photo...from some respectfull distance, of course. ]
 

So, in brief: Them were here before us (humans), and even by noticing all these ecological caveats by our own making – it's more than likely that them will be here (on Earth) even after our time will be over (...with the uttermost propability. Nothing in this world is 100 per cent sure. From the projected future even less can be stated w. some certainty, of course.) Call this attitude (of mine) some nature-romantism if wish, but to me it's just some simple realism. Unlike us (humans) who do greatly benefit from them, the insects don't actually need us in any manner. As the natural logic easily consolidates, or due from a natural order of things, they're actually in every level more self-sustaining...if compared to our human cultures. (We're actually dependent from the insects on most various tasks, not solely meaning the pollinating of plants them handle.). The insects also have, fx, during vast continuum of times, their assumed well over 200 million years of past existence, survived every previous mass-extinction event - w. no particular difficulties or only 'minor hits taken' (...like was the expression by Dawkins we've sometime earlier referred for).

...Otherways, wasn't actually meaning say too much on this. My original idea was only for accompanying these pics w. a few suitable quates from some classics (At the following, see...) I'm also not quite too well acquainted from and about hymenoptera to describe the species esp. But their interesting, and many species are relative easy observe at Natures.

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'What the ancients said.' ; So here's then lastly few important symbolical references to the bees at the old fiction/literature, which I was able to find. Mostly insects (those 'bugs') are quite devoid of mention in the old books. Yet, there's also plenty important exceptions.

[...Below ; Thistle-flower - Also, are some of the plants that the bumble-bees, ao, most eagerly visit.]

; ...The first brief quote w. a classic w. bee-reference is from the 17^th century – Precisely, it's from Jonathan Swift's (1670-1740) renown satire text (or comment it was, for at the time heated dispute concerning ancient and modern learning.) This is also renown due from it's said, by earliest, having introduced the (very famous) phrase sweetness and light, to the English language.

(...from) A Full and True account of the Battle fought last Friday between the Ancient and Modern Books in Saint James's library ; (p. y. 1697, ...the bee-reference is on paragraph:) 

 

”...As for us, the Ancients, we content with the bee, to pretend to nothing of our own beyond our wings and our voice: that is to say, our flights and our language. For the rest, whatever we have got has been by infinite labour and search, and ranging through every corner of nature; the difference is, that, instead of dirt and poison, we have rather chosen to till our hives, with honey and wax; thus furnishing mankind with the two noblest of things, which are sweetness and light.”

(...You may have noticed that along w. other words, wax I've emphasized of the text. It is worth the remark, due because from prior there was any electric lights - actually even before the oil-lamps had been taken on uses (or, similar inventions), the beewax collected from bee hives was considered even more valuable than the sweet honey. And indeed, even nowadays it's fun occasionally use some - particularly on this dark season of the year (Nov.). Most enchanting luxury, w. mild light and their sweet gentle scent. ..Although, candle burns out lot sooner than the regular candles. (Of Webster's I also was able find this reference about wax candles cultural past importance: [a Standard candle was] 'a unit of luminous intensity equal to the luminous intensity of a wax candle of standard specifictions, [that was] ...used prior to 1909.')

; Then (almost as famous) second quote...It's from how Rousseau (Jean-Jacques, 1712-1778) on his Les Confessions (1782) described his 'another little family at the end of the garden', ie: 
 

”; these were several hives of bees, which I never failed to visit once a day, and was frequently accompanied by Madame de Warens. … At first curiosity made me indiscreet, and they stung me several times, but afterwards, we were so well acquainted, them let me approach as near as would, they never molested me, though the hives were full and the bees ready to swarm. At these times I have been surrounded, having them on my hands and face without apprehendin any danger.”

 

...Rousseau, that great nature-romantic, even finds his business w. bee-hives a source for inspirations/or thoughts most of us could allow only toward the 'fellow' mammalians , as he states soon after at successive sentences: 
 

”All animals are distrustful of man, and with reason, but when once assured he does not mean to injure them, their confidence becomes so great that he must be worse than barbarian who abuses it.”

(Although, on the latter reference Rousseau doesn't specifically refer to honey-bees, or neither for the other insects.) ...I can't say him to over-romanticing the human-animal relation on that. While it maybe little too imaginous or speculative from considering insects to possess anything similar or comparable for emotions (/compassion), at least we humans do have those feelings...which also defines our own specific relations towards any animal, even these 'little flyin bugs'. Besides, insect do get accustomed to the particular human personnels, fx the honeybees towards bee-keeper. Even the wild species recognize and react for the presence of the observer...albeit them are usually too busy on their tasks for t0 pay much attention for humans. Mostly - unlike our relation towards them – them actually consider us unimportant, meaningles from their view-point.

 

 [...Beside ; ...an interesting looking spec. - But was speeding through some low hays, so I hadn't chance for any better pic of it...]

; However, my own favorite among these classic quotes (perhaps because it doesn't esp. refer for the honey-bee, but the bees more generally), is from Mary Shelley's (1797-1851) novel The Last Man (1826): 

”The chasm, deep black and hoary, swept from the summit to the base, in the fissures of the rock, myrtle underwood grew and wild thyme, the flood of many nations of bees, enormous crags protruded into the cleft, some beetling over, other rising perpendicularly from it.”

...Quote/novel likely reflects the political situations of that time (The Greek revolution and it's independencing from the Ottoman rule, and, likely that bee-reference mostly could/should interpret as the symbolical reference for united support to the rebellion (imagined, actually there wasn't any mutual support) from the west European nations.) 
 

...But my actual interest was merely on origins of that word, or term. (Of course, It's just a few words on that paragraph, used in passing, yet not probably meant without a particular meaning. And even that I don't think those words - 'nations of bees' - even would be by her own inventions, by earliest. ,...or, possibly?). ;...Seems it, anyway, also mentioned (on Benjamin – McCallum, fx) that the bee, (ie, or esp. honey-bee) was been traditionally and often, on many past times and countries, used as the symbol for strenuous moral of the citizens, their industriousness, etc. In brief, all those characteristics that people often find for admirable qualities and would've like to identify to themselves, via the bee. (That most useful domesticated animal 'partner' since long in the human pasts.) So, in a sense, the above quoted sentence also takes this old metaphor – ages old – and turns it's meaning around by recognizing that actually the bees are just as numerous than those nations whose fates and dead-ends the novel eventually is from and about (By the way, quote situates also on the earliest climax in the plot of novel, for it's used at the first melodramatic 'height-point'.) . Somehow very enchanting, even that it's just a few words.

[...To the left ; ...At clover, dark-coloured spec. that seems preferably fly around the early hours from evening. It's maybe, a Cuckoo bumble-bee, ...I'd guess. ]

; ...But of course there must be lots and numerous more references to the bees (/honey bees) on the old literature. Even since from the antique times at least, them've always been favored subject of observation and sources for imagination for humans. The few exerts I just picked here of the texts I was familiar with, and from recent memoir... 
Also seems that this sequel now should end our writings about the Fennoscandian insects (...at least from any groups or genera specifically.) [; G.U.J.]

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'Sources' :  (...Or, merely just few some books of the bees)

Buchmann – Nabham, The forgotten pollinators (1996)

Benjamin – McCallum. The world without bees (2000s).

Crosby; Ecological Imperialism. The Biological Expansion of Europe 900-1900 (1986)

- Crosby's classic book is quite old by now and isn't about bees mainly or mostly...but it describes well the spreading of honey-bees along with European colonization to other continents.    [Ops! ...Accidentally that priorly pesented Crosby's earlier 1972 book, but now it's corrected.] 

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