I have no love for insects with stingers. At 17, wandering around Boston, I got stung on the ankle by some wandering bee, leaving me pretty much immobile for the rest of my trip. A few years later, I took a day off work to catch up on things like groceries, when an overzealous wasp somehow made its way down the back of my shirt and stung me. Repeatedly. Did you know wasps could do that? I had no idea, but that was the day I learned. There’s nothing quite like spending your day off lying face down on your bathroom floor, whimpering and helpless.

Anywhoo, so yeah, I don’t like bees and wasps, but I DO like my fruits. Because of the mysterious disappearances of honey bees of late, agricultural experts are worried about the effects on pollination of crops (to the tune of $15 billion worth of fruits, nuts, and other assorted crops in U.S. alone). No one still has any clue why the honey bees are disappearing so rapidly, or even where they’re disappearing to. No bodies, no clues. Is some unexpected predator filling its belly with honey bees? Hey, it could happen! Actually, it’s already happening in France, where Asian hornets (that were accidentally imported from China) are attacking the honey bees and turning them into bee-paste for the queen and her brood.

Such violent creatures! I say do away with all of ‘em, but since I do like my fruits and nuts, I am bummed about the disappearances.

Filed by Maria in news