Be a Hummingbird
Welcome to the second edition of the 6th graders research journal where we find out more about the action that they are taking to protect the planet.
Welcome to the second edition of the 6th graders research journal where we find out more about the action that they are taking to protect the planet.
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So if robotic bees are superior pollinators then what
other advantages do they have?
When the temperatures rise and it gets hot, the natural
bees go to the front of the hive and flap their wings really
quickly to make like an air current and there will be a fan
that air conditions the temperature of the hive. When the
temperature of the air is between 57-100°F, honey bees are
usually eager to work. However, they cannot fly very well
when the temperature is below 55°F. Some sources state
that flying activity does not take place outside of the
50-110°F air temperature range.
When the air temperature is around 64°F, honey bees
can begin to cluster together in the hive to keep the queen
and themselves warm. At outside air temperatures of
around 57°F, the honey bees will cluster more closely
together and the exterior of the cluster will appear more
compact. They also stay in their hives and use their wings
to cover them like a blanket.
Unlike natural bees, robotic bees get the upper
hand here because they can continue working
under extreme temperatures.
So, does this mean that robots can just replace our bees? To
summarise this information, natural bees can harvest 30%
of the available pollen while robotic bees can harvest 41% of
the available pollen. (1-0) But, even though they get more
pollen, they still need to convert it into honey, and robotic
bees cannot do that. In conclusion, natural bees get the
upper hand here.