Children's Museum inaugurated exhibit with 8000 live bees

Article taken from: www.nacion.com

The scientist José Ramírez, from the Center of Tropical Investigations (Cinat) of the National University (UNA) celebrated yesterday the inauguration of a new room in the Children’s Museum.

In this new space a portion of a real hive with 8,000 african bees was located in the museum. It was cut carefully to show the interior of a natural swarm and how the bees manufacture the honey.

The queen bee, the drones and the honey may be seen through the glass. A fragrance of the product may also be smelled.

For the absolute security of the visitors, all the bees are behind two layers of fortified glass. "The intention of this exhibit is to remove the stigma that there is for these animals. By observsating the exhibit one may come to understand its great ecological value, a greater appreciation for thee bees is acquired", said Cristina Briceño, curator of the Museum

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The children of the Don Bosco School, that attended the inauguration, never tired out and asked the experts a handful of questions. Thus, the only silence in the morning was done when the scientist Ramírez explained that the bees have five eyes, two hoods that are used to see in the day and three further back (located in the upper part of their head) used for seeing in the darkness and to perceive the ultraviolet radiation.

Another of the news for the children was that the bees are vital in the development of certain fruits, like melon. "Without bees there is no melon, therefore they are in charge of pollinating the plants, which is quite important", the expert said of the exhibit.

The exhibit reflects on the nutritious and medicine potential of the honey with products as wines, creams, wax of candles and even a liquid against pinkeye.