Dr. Kirsten Traynor

Yeah, they collaborate on a lot of things. So the bees will cluster in this winter cluster, and that leaves their entrance undefended. And a honeybee hive is, of course, warm and dry and quite cozy. And so field mice, if a beekeeper hasn't put a mouse excluder on the front of their hive... will try and sneak in and chew their way through the comb that's undefended down below.

And then come spring when the bees notice, oh, we have an unwanted visitor living in the bottom of our hive, they will sometimes sting that mouse to death and they can't carry it out because it's too big. So they'll remove the parts they can and then they will propylize and entomb the rest of the mouse, the skeleton, so that it doesn't make the hive sick.

And then come spring when the bees notice, oh, we have an unwanted visitor living in the bottom of our hive, they will sometimes sting that mouse to death and they can't carry it out because it's too big. So they'll remove the parts they can and then they will propylize and entomb the rest of the mouse, the skeleton, so that it doesn't make the hive sick.

And then come spring when the bees notice, oh, we have an unwanted visitor living in the bottom of our hive, they will sometimes sting that mouse to death and they can't carry it out because it's too big. So they'll remove the parts they can and then they will propylize and entomb the rest of the mouse, the skeleton, so that it doesn't make the hive sick.

What? Yeah, they basically mummify anything too big that they can't move.

What? Yeah, they basically mummify anything too big that they can't move.

What? Yeah, they basically mummify anything too big that they can't move.

Well, beekeepers have actually tested this. I think in American Bee Journal, there was actually a beekeeper who had attached mice, dead mice on the bottom of the hive to see how quickly they removed them. And they chew off their fur and anything that they can remove with their mouth parts, they will. But of course, the skeleton, they can't break apart. And so that they propylize and entomb them.

Well, beekeepers have actually tested this. I think in American Bee Journal, there was actually a beekeeper who had attached mice, dead mice on the bottom of the hive to see how quickly they removed them. And they chew off their fur and anything that they can remove with their mouth parts, they will. But of course, the skeleton, they can't break apart. And so that they propylize and entomb them.

Well, beekeepers have actually tested this. I think in American Bee Journal, there was actually a beekeeper who had attached mice, dead mice on the bottom of the hive to see how quickly they removed them. And they chew off their fur and anything that they can remove with their mouth parts, they will. But of course, the skeleton, they can't break apart. And so that they propylize and entomb them.

A propolis bees gather from tree buds. It's an antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal substance that plants produce to protect the new buds on the tree. And the bees collect that and will mix it with beeswax and they'll use it as an antibacterial doormat and for other things in their hive.

A propolis bees gather from tree buds. It's an antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal substance that plants produce to protect the new buds on the tree. And the bees collect that and will mix it with beeswax and they'll use it as an antibacterial doormat and for other things in their hive.

A propolis bees gather from tree buds. It's an antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal substance that plants produce to protect the new buds on the tree. And the bees collect that and will mix it with beeswax and they'll use it as an antibacterial doormat and for other things in their hive.

Correct.

Correct.

Correct.

You're very welcome. I hope it's been useful.

You're very welcome. I hope it's been useful.

You're very welcome. I hope it's been useful.