Meat Bees

[The15thMember]

I heard someone call yellowjackets "meat bees" today.  Has anyone else ever heard that before?  I have to admit it kind of drove me crazy.  As if people aren't confused enough about what is and is not a bee.   

[Ben Framed]

Reagan, I share your sentiments.   

[BeeMaster2]

Reagan,
I think they are referring to the fact that YJs, during the spring and summer, collect protein and feed it to their brood. That is why it is not uncommon to use fish in YJ traps. And it works pretty well.
Jim Altmiller

[Michael Bush]

I can understand the "meat" part.  Beekeeping clubs etc. though, keep adding to the confusion by using yellow and black bees, as do the cartoons.  Bees are not yellow and black.  They are brown and black, or they are brown and dark brown, or they are black and grey, or they are silver grey.  Honey bees are never yellow.

[The15thMember]

Reagan,
I think they are referring to the fact that YJs, during the spring and summer, collect protein and feed it to their brood. That is why it is not uncommon to use fish in YJ traps. And it works pretty well.
Jim Altmiller

I can understand the "meat" part.

Yeah, it's not the "meat" that's riling me up, it's the "bee" part.  Especially because, with a handful of exceptions, not eating meat is one of the definitions of being a bee.  Generally, wasps are meat eaters, bees are pollen eaters, so unless we are talking about vulture bees, the phrase "meat bee" is a totally contradictory. 

Beekeeping clubs etc. though, keep adding to the confusion by using yellow and black bees, as do the cartoons.  Bees are not yellow and black.  They are brown and black, or they are brown and dark brown, or they are black and grey, or they are silver grey.  Honey bees are never yellow.

 
You know what drives me crazy even more than that, is the continued use of those totally fake Winnie the Pooh aerial honey bee nests in bee-related graphic design, the ones that look like bumpy tan bald-faced hornet nests.  I can't stand those!  What was A. A. Milne thinking?!  Although to be fair, it's not a like a bald-faced hornet is really a hornet, so I guess we're all guilty of something.   

[Michael Bush]

I think part of the confusion has been that a skep sort of (barely) resembles a bald faced hornet's nest.

[The15thMember]

I think part of the confusion has been that a skep sort of (barely) resembles a bald faced hornet's nest.

Oh man, I never put that together!    That is a tenuous resemblance, but it would totally be enough for someone who didn't know. 

[Bob Wilson]

I used to try to educate people that honey bees are not the carnivorous, multi-stinging, more aggressive hornets/wasps/jackets. But they don't want to listen to more than a 6 second sound byte.

[The15thMember]

I used to try to educate people that honey bees are not the carnivorous, multi-stinging, more aggressive hornets/wasps/jackets. But they don't want to listen to more than a 6 second sound byte.

I'm pretty sure I simply cannot speak to someone who would give me only six seconds to say anything. 

[Michael Bush]

>That is a tenuous resemblance, but it would totally be enough for someone who didn't know.

Turn the skep upside down and hang it from a tree...

[Ben Framed]

You know what drives me crazy even more than that, is the continued use of those totally fake Winnie the Pooh aerial honey bee nests in bee-related graphic design, the ones that look like bumpy tan bald-faced hornet nests.  I can't stand those!  What was A. A. Milne thinking?!  Although to be fair, it's not a like a bald-faced hornet is really a hornet, so I guess we're all guilty of something. 

  Winnie-the-Pooh was introduced in 1924 by A.A. Milne in a children's book. A time when skep beekeeping was not so uncommon, nor unfamiliar with the general public. The general public related such images of the skep, to bees; Phooh simply helped himself by digging in lol. (Though I rather doubt skeps were hanging in trees, while realizing bear are not yellow either! lol).  

With this in mind, I hope the image or Phooh handily carrying his skep around, will 'help' ease any hostilities or irritations Reagan. May I suggest you 'picture' his skep with a view of nostalgia and sentiment of a time of 'that day', of 'that era', instead. 


Phillip

[Ben Framed]

I used to try to educate people that honey bees are not the carnivorous, multi-stinging, more aggressive hornets/wasps/jackets. But they don't want to listen to more than a 6 second sound byte.

Yes, I can understand Bob. For many 'non'-beekeepers, the attitude seems to be "'if it stings" it doesn't matter what its name is! (If it stings, it stings and call it what you will "I don't care", end of discussion lol). At least we try to educate them Bob.  Thanks for the reminding post and smile. 😊


Phillip

[Barhopper]

I know that while cleaning deer and fish it?s not unusual to have yellow jackets show up. Maybe that?s what they were talking about.