The honey bee

I wonder if we are aware that the humble honey bee, a common flying insect; usually considered as a nuisance by most of us; is an extremely valuable and useful being. It gives a silent but significant service to mankind's food chain and other products too! Way back in prehistoric days; the poet Virgil, stored his valuables in a beehive; to ensure that no one stole these; capitalising on its sting; as a deterrent! Further, since time immemorial; honey was a delicacy, satiating our natural desire for sweets; and as such, it was considered a luxury; in ancient days! It was also extensively used as a preservative. Though not well known; it is a historical fact that Alexander the Great, when he died in Babylon his dead body was carried back by his followers to Greece; in a coffin, filled with honey; to preserve the body; for the long journey back to Greece! It was also a popular and effective cough suppressant; just as good as our modern cough remedies!
Bees are desired, and extensively employed for the pollination of many crops, in the very large farms in USA! In USA alone; around US$ 200 billion worth of annual agricultural crops are pollinated by bees! Over thirty per cent of all fruits, vegetables and nuts; like apples, watermelons, plums, cucumber, almonds and many other crops are pollinated by the busy bee; all over the world! It may not be out of place to mention that over eighty per cent of all the flower and food bearing plants around the world are pollinated by bees! These humble flying insects possibly contribute as much, if not more than, men and machines towards overall agricultural production; for all flowers, food grains, fruits, nuts and that is harvested round the globe! Does the common Honey Bee, not deserve a "Nobel Prize" for its valuable contribution to mankind? Unfortunately, we are by and large, totally unaware of this worthy and essential creature that plays such an important part in our lives; that we all take it for granted! Fortunately; these useful creatures do not know about work stoppage, strikes and other negative deeds practiced by mankind; when they are involved in needed and important production of goods and services; though we label ourselves as the most superior beings on earth! We should be ashamed of ourselves!
Bees are the unknown treasure, for every country all over the world; unwept, unhonoured and unsung! In the days to come; their activity may be utilised in space, as the moon and other planets will be inhabited by men from Earth! One wonders if a pair of bees will be released; in later missions to the moon? Lest we forget; possibly bees are the most valuable creatures on earth; and their crucial function in the chain of food bearing for man and also many animals is critical! There should be wide awareness of the important role, that bees play in our lives; and we should never consider these valuable creatures just as a nuisance, because of the unpleasant "bee sting"; which is a normal reaction of the bees; if and when we disturb and provoke these creatures! We should never forget, that we owe a lot to them!

 The writer is an engineer by profession and a Rotarian. Email: sam@dhakacom.com