This honey smells of PR

An amusing, if unbelievable, story: http://shar.es/zzKl8

Bez, the former Happy Mondays star, has revealed he suffered an unpleasant bee attack after leaving his trouser zip undone while tending his bee hive.

Glowing like a Good 'Un

Bicycling in a beesuit is really not recommended, especially not up Wimbledon Hill. I was glowing like a good 'un when I reached the top.

• Horses Sweat
• Men Perspire 
• Ladies only Glow

Talking about bicycles: Here's a pic of Jana Kinsman, Bike-a-Bee, Chicago.
Is Chicago flat or lumpy? I think we should be told. http://bikeabee.com/about

African 'killer bees'

How to save our bees: cross-breed them with African 'killer bees'    Photo:  Eureka Entertainment
The RC helicopter was justified - it was used to film swarms in flight, apparently. 

Graeme; Now, you may say I'm a loony...

I note in this article in the hallowed e-pages of the never-hysterical Daily Mail that keeping urban bees may be bad for bees. The argument, posited by Professor Francis Ratnieks and Dr Karin Alton from the Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI) at the University of Sussex is roughly this:

• In urban areas there are more bees than the forage will support 
• The bees will starve and die, or starve and become harbours for disease

Would that not, therefore, be a self-correcting situation? Not ideal, possibly, but then again that's pretty much how life works out, if you're an insect.

Bill and Tim: You're a loony.

Croatia finds another way to keep bees busy - Americas - Al Jazeera English

Scientists in Croatia are using the insects to help find land mines.

http://www.aljazeera.com/video/americas/2013/05/2013521295032120.html

Something to do with sugar. 

Thymol

Is it just me, or does anyone else like the smell of Apiguard?

Swarm ... or not ...

This evening the bees were hanging out of the hive, dripping over the landing board like a wet beard. My first thought was that they were about to swarm - but on inspection I could find no queen cells. Mind you, that doesn't say too much!