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PSA: Bees getting drunk can be quite deadly


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#1 Offline ZATrippit - Posted December 7 2023 - 12:02 AM

ZATrippit

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For those of you who don't know, bees can get drunk. This is caused when their sweet foods (nectar, pollen, fruits etc.) ferment in the hot sun, producing ethanol. When the bees ingest this narcotic it causes wooziness, forgetfulness, and temporary loss of flight in bees. All of this is temporary, and the bees usually return to normal. :)

However, it's also pretty dangerous. For example, there's a local park where I usually sit and eat my lunch, under some trees. These trees produce berries the bees LOVE. As you can imagine, under the hot temperatures these berries ferment causing the hundreds of bees up there at any given time to get really munted. The bees then often get stepped on when completely zoned out and, unfortunately, die. The other day, while eating my lunch, a local was walking through the park. As he was passing me, he accidentally scooped up a bumblebee in his jandles and so I had to help remove it. 😬

Across that section of the park, there's many squashed bees on the path-- honey bees, bumble bees, and even native solitary bee species...

Maybe I should put up a 'Warning: Drunk Bees' sign?
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#2 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted December 7 2023 - 6:56 AM

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I wasn't sure if you meant it was deadly for people getting drunken bees angry, or deadly for drunken bees getting stepped on. I see you meant the latter.

 

I did, however, have to look up "jandles" .... ("Munted" I can guess from context.)

 

If you're allowed to put a sign I think it's a great idea. "Warning: drunk bees underfoot" maybe.


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