The great collapse of Western honey bees had been devastating for the local flora. Thousands of wild flowers had died and many people suffered from the food shortages. In reaction to the catastrophe, beekeepers had imported Japanese honey bees in an effort to save the ecosystem.
Introducing a foreign species to an existing ecosystem was never without consequences, but the honeybees seemed to adapt relatively well and filled the hole left by their extinct cousins. Slowly, very slowly, food production started to function again, although it was still a long way to go.
People tried to act in a more environmental-friendly way. They planted flowers, used fewer pesticides and donated to organizations that aimed to preserve the remaining bee species. But as the previous conditions returned, they stopped caring.
Pesticides were sprayed again. Bee colonies started to collapse, one after another. The second mass extinction prepared itself to jump out of the shadow of ignorance and carelessness and take the last honey bees with it.
But the bees refused to go without a fight.
It was a hot Wednesday afternoon when Joe noticed a weird buzzing. He looked around but couldn’t locate the source, as he was standing on a busy sidewalk in the middle of the city. People blocked the sight in all directions.
The buzzing came closer. Became louder. Suddenly, Joe could hear screams. Screams of fear and agony. They came from behind him.
Curious and ready to help if possible, he turned around and sprinted into the direction of the screams. Several people followed his example but then came to a sudden stop when they saw the scenario that played out in front of their eyes.
A big, dark buzzing ball of insects had formed in the middle of the sidewalk. But not any kind of insect. Bees. And the screams Joe had heard? They were coming from inside the ball.
”What the fuck is happening here?” He called out while backing away.
”They came out of nowhere!” A woman squeaked hysterically. ”They just descended from above and enveloped this guy. I don’t….”
A second cloud made from bees suddenly appeared and surrounded another pedestrian who immediately started screaming too. That was the moment Joe noticed that the screams that brought him here had stopped.
The bees that had covered the first victim scattered and a body crashed to the floor. The skin looked burnt and the face was distorted into a grimace of agony.
Joe remembered a documentation he had once seen, about Japanese honeybees literally cooking a giant hornet. It had happened the same way they had killed this poor guy. Just with fewer bees. Was that it? Did the bees actively attack humans now? But why?
Someone took his arm and pulled him away. Joe stumbled and almost fell down, but managed to keep his balance at the last moment. Lost in thoughts, he hadn’t noticed even more bees appearing and attacking the people around. Burnt bodies were dropping on the asphalt left and right.
As unlikely as it might have seemed, it was true. The bees were attacking and killing humans by cooking them alive.
Joe started running for his life, but he already heard the buzzing behind him.
He knew that he couldn’t outrun them.
Sources:
Bee Brains Hold Temp Steady to Slow Cook Wasps
"Hot Bee Balls" Cook Enemy Hornets—But How Do Bees Endure the Heat?
Death and Extinction of the Bees
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Picture taken from pixabay.com
Bees <3
Oh wait.. bees </3 ?
I loved the story. I've read about giant japanese wasps and how the japanese bees defend themselves by gathering around the giant wasp and "heating" it to death by buzzing around it. When the wasp scout is dead, the majority of wasps will not find the beehive and the colony is saved.
I'm not 100% sure if this was all facts.
I do like bees and I would prefer people to reduce the use of pesticides.
Your info is pretty accurate :)
Japanese giant hornet and a bee. Enjoy:
Had these all around my last summer in Japan, not only are they extremely big, but really aggressive. Beasty creatures... don't miss them at all haha
I don't doubt you at all.
"Wow, was that a bird that flew in the window"
"No it was a hornet"
"..."
Thanks for this. I am very aware of bees and the problems they face. I am following you for more interesting reads. I am a photographer and love to capture bees 🐝. My grandfather was a master bee keeper too 👌
I was told that New Zealand have a very famous "brand" of honey called Manuka but at the same time extremely expensive. They claim to have some health effect and even there are SOD in it lol
Revenge of the bees...would make a great post-apocalypse horror film! I remember watching a doc with Japanese bees and hornets and it was actually just like watching a real horror.
very interesting
I've read some of your posts really interesting, you are very concerned about species extinction and I am proud of you.
As we know, the more progress of the times, then we see the less man will care about the extinction of the species. And in this steemit only you @suesa who care about the species. Thank you very much for reminding us.
Very good story .. after I read from stanza to stanza many wisdom that can be taken from this story. Therefore we as humans alike continue to avoid the extinction of the chain, there are some people who do not care about the life of bees, because they consider this bee as a useless creature and let it just like that, but many need honey bees,
So I personally love to read useful story stories, with a lot of reading that we have a lot of knowledge.thank-@suesa
According to my knowledge the bees do attack humans and even other animals though.
But I do not elaborate on the size of the bees you are describing.
According to my knowledge, the bees in my area are small, but the bees also attack humans and even animals.
the bees fight back! I like it!
wow, what a great, great, horrifying plot. That is another step further than " bees staying hot in winter via flexing the muscles". This is extreme. applause!
Great story, very interesting!!@suesa
A very detailed picture. How do you get a picture like this? Do you use a macro lens service
As mentioned at the bottom of the post, this os not my picture but was taken from pixabay.com
I think the picture exists. The picture is very beautiful. I like pictures like this. Thank for share
A very interesting post, sir, I have read some of your posts is very interesting, you are very concerned about the extinction of this species of animals and I am very proud of you sir. As we know, the more progress of the times, then we see fewer humans concerned with the extinction of the species. And in this steemit I think only you are @sues who care about these species of animals. Thank you so much for reminding us of all the importance of keeping this species of animal.
Those Japanese giant hornets are spawned by satan himself. Around 20 or 30 of them can wipe out a bee colony of 30,000 + and are huge in size comparison to bees.
The bees do kill hornet scouts by shaking their thorax and can handle literally 1 degree hotter in temperature than the hornets can withstand, but if the scout gets away its game over for the bees!
The documentary is called "Hornets From Hell" and was aired on the National Geographic Channel. Here is a 7 min clip. Please vote and follow me if you like this video. Thanks
her eyes are so cute. but i hate honeybees. they are too dangerous
Not really. Usually, honeybees are really non-aggressive. The events described in my story are fictional.
your post makes me wonder how hot it would be to wear a "bee beard" lol
i don't know which one is best.but in bangladesh people collect honey naturally
watch this
Great hook!