The Story
Nyuki finally faces her fear of the unknown
and assumes her role as a forager only to discover that she loves it!
Nyuki works her wings to a nub as she collects pollen and honey for the
new hive. Join our heroine in this final issue of the Xeric Award winning
mini-series as she learns about the ancient co-operative relationship between
flowers and bees from her floral pal Bloomington. And, of course, there
is the return of everyone’s favorite dung-pushing beetle Sisyphus! |
The
Science: the following topics are covered within the context
of the story.
How flowers attract honey bees and why they
do it.
The collection and use of plant resins (propolis).
A bees need to warm-up its flight muscles
prior to flying.
The frequency with which bees beat their wings
and the toll it takes.
Bees can see ultraviolet light.
The use of ultraviolet markings by flowers
to guide bees to their nectar source.
Pollen collection.
The co-evolutionary relationship between bees
and flowers: the costs and benefits for each.
Pollination
The exchange of honey from forager to worker
called tropholaxis.
The waggle dance: the information each element
of the dance conveys and how foragers watching the dance use that information
to collect nectar.
The continuity of living things.
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