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Post by samwiseg on Aug 12, 2015 9:17:20 GMT
Watched this last night if anyone is interested - there is a particular bit in the documentary about an orchid which is the most fascinating thing I have ever seen!
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Post by starlingqueen on Aug 12, 2015 9:53:49 GMT
I'll have a look at that later samwiseg thanks.
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Post by mintysowner on Aug 12, 2015 10:30:57 GMT
I did laugh at 'worker'! So if the Queen bee is a female, and the male is a male... what is a worker bee?!
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Post by starlingqueen on Aug 12, 2015 13:03:30 GMT
I did laugh at 'worker'! So if the Queen bee is a female, and the male is a male... what is a worker bee?! Workers are all female. Drones are males. These are on standby to mate with the virgin queens in case the queen dies. They then feed a chosen egg with royal jelly to make the new queen. Then the drones mate with her and die. The remaining drones are thrown out of the hive at the end of the season to die. The queen lays eggs continuously. Fertilised eggs are female and unfertilised are male drones.
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Post by mintysowner on Aug 12, 2015 16:41:17 GMT
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Post by Shirls on Aug 13, 2015 7:24:49 GMT
It is really fascinating, have only watched half the link samwiseg, as I have now, yesterday been multiply stung by a wasp! I am really not a happy bunny today with several stings on my head (the wasp got caught up in my hair and I have really short hair too!) and one on my neck. I was in such a state my daughter rushed me to the Doctor and I am now armed with antihistamine cream, tablets and steroids. This last lot of stings caused a real drastic reaction! I'm on the phone later to have the nests removed, which is something I really didn't want to do. I was under the impression if you got stung regularly by an insect, that you built up an immunity, how wrong can one be!!! Nevertheless that link is very interesting (thank you Sam) and I shall finish watching the second half later on.
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Post by samwiseg on Aug 13, 2015 7:33:04 GMT
Oh god Shirls I do hope you are alright? You have really had a time of it lately but hopefully it can only get better from here xx
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Post by OP on Aug 13, 2015 8:23:40 GMT
Oh! dear Shirls, poor you and I mean that. What a time you are having. Contrary to your thoughts that being repeatedly stung by an insect building up a resistance it can have the opposite effect when receive a lot of stings in a very short time. As you have now found out. Take it easy and let the medication do it's work. My thoughts are with you.
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Post by OP on Aug 13, 2015 8:59:11 GMT
I have just been reading an article about bee and wasp stings, it caught my eye whilst looking for something else. Anyhow it suggests that when a wasp stings it sends out a pheromone alerting nearby wasps to the intruder. This pheromone then attracts any nearby wasps to join in, hence you getting so many stings and insects stinging you. You need to get rid of the nests. I'm sure you already know that.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 13, 2015 9:44:02 GMT
It sounds like you are beginning to develop an allergy to them, Shirls.
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Post by Shirls on Aug 13, 2015 10:05:53 GMT
Yes, I think I am Hezz. But multiple stings do have more effect than one. I have to go for blood tests next week to assess my tolerance levels to wasp and bee stings. I am pleased to say that I have a man coming round in the next 1/2 hour to get rid of my two nests.
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Post by suesbird on Aug 13, 2015 20:38:01 GMT
Oh Shirls, what a time you are having, hope the nests have gone and you feeling better.
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