Pop's Bees

01/29/2026

Making plans 😉

01/29/2026

Honey bees working on a very cold day.

11/17/2025

🐝 Did you know that the queen bee and the worker bee have the same DNA? Not a queen by inheritance... it's for feed ! What makes them completely different beings is not genetics, but food. 😱🍯 🥄 Since birth, all larvae are the same. But some are given royal jelly in large quantities throughout their larval stage, while others receive a common mixture of nectar and pollen. That difference in diet reprograms your body and destiny. 👑 The bee that eats only royal jelly grows twice in size, lives years instead of weeks, and develops ovaries to lay up to 2,000 eggs a day. Meanwhile, their working sisters, with the same DNA, will never be able to reproduce and will only live a few weeks. All about the food! 🧬➡️🍽️➡️🐝 🧠 This phenomenon is one of the most extreme examples of epigenetics, the field that studies how environment and food can activate or shut down genes without changing the genetic code. Literally, what you eat can change who you are.

11/17/2025

When we talk about winter bees, the word vitellogenin always pops up.
And honestly… what the heck is that anyway?! 🐝❄️

It sounds like something straight out of a science lab, but it’s actually one of the most fascinating parts of honey bee biology — and it’s the secret to how colonies survive winter.

So… what IS vitellogenin?

Vitellogenin is a powerhouse protein stored inside the bodies of winter bees. Unlike summer bees (who live only 4–6 weeks), winter bees can survive 4–6 months — and vitellogenin is the main reason why.

This one protein acts like:

🐝Energy storage
🐝A supercharged immune booster
🐝Anti-aging protection
🐝A built-in nutrition reserve for raising early spring brood

It basically turns winter bees into long-lasting, cold-resistant, brood-feeding superheroes.

Why winter bees are totally different
As fall arrives and pollen drops, colonies begin raising a special generation of “fat bees.” These bees aren’t actually fat — they’re packed with vitellogenin.
Because of this, they can:

🐝 Live months instead of weeks
🐝 Cluster and generate heat without burning out
🐝 Fight off disease more effectively
🐝 Feed the first spring babies long before fresh pollen arrives

Without vitellogenin, the colony simply couldn’t make it through winter.

Why this topic fascinates me
Honey bees never stop amazing me. One single protein controls longevity, immunity, stress tolerance, and early spring brood care. It’s like nature invented the perfect survival tool.
Bee Haven 2025
And here’s the important takeaway:
What we feed our bees in late summer and fall directly affects their vitellogenin levels — and ultimately their winter survival.

The more we learn, the better we can care for them. 💛🐝

I would love a dart of Vitellogenin, you?

11/11/2025

We are hearing warnings about this mite. It will make existing pests seem like play compared to this bug.

11/06/2025

The main life stages of the honey bee
Nurse Bees
House Bees
Foragers

08/23/2025

Might come in handy for old beekeepers

🤖 Japan Is Giving Superpowers to Seniors! 🇯🇵

With one of the world’s oldest populations, Japan is turning to robotic exoskeletons to help elderly workers safely lift heavy loads, reduce injury risk, and stay active on the job longer. 💼💪

These high-tech suits detect body movement and add motorized support — making warehouse and construction jobs easier, safer, and more inclusive.

From Panasonic to Cyberdyne, Japanese tech is proving that age is just a number when innovation has your back! 🔧🦿

Work smarter, lift stronger, live longer.

08/23/2025

08/16/2025

07/08/2025

Honeybee venom found to kill aggressive breast cancer cells. Research indicates that melittin, a compound found in honey bee venom, has potential anticancer effects by selectively targeting and destroying cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. It works by disrupting cell membranes and interfering with cancer cell growth pathways. Further studies are needed to determine its safety and efficacy as a potential cancer treatment.