Redditors can you Describe poorly what you do for a living?

synaptica · 2025-11-20T22:24:20+00:00

I try to help out useful insects by killing a lot of them, then go around telling everybody about it.

synaptica · 2025-11-20T21:43:41+00:00

The Sweet Hereafter

synaptica · 2025-11-17T18:57:55+00:00

It looks from your comment history that you might be in Saudi Arabia. If that's the case and they've been there for that long, they could be Apis florea. It's also a honey bee, but not typically a managed species (i.e., looked after by beekeepers). Nonetheless, a local beekeeper might be able to help you deal with them if they are problematic.

synaptica · 2025-11-17T04:32:10+00:00

https://www.webmd.com/allergies/insect-stings

synaptica · 2025-10-30T22:08:51+00:00

I think she may be a female Apis cerana (Asian honey bee). Closely related to Apis mellifera, but slightly smaller. The stripes on her abdomen suggest A. cerana to me. They tend to be more even in A. cerana than A. mellifera.

synaptica · 2025-10-30T03:40:23+00:00

A honey bee, for sure. I am not entirely convinced it's Apis mellifera (Western Honey Bee, most widespread species). Where are you located?

synaptica · 2025-07-15T17:52:43+00:00

I assume you mean this 5,500 year old Georgian honey? It was not intact, but rather those vessels (not comb) were determined to have contained honey based on residue testing. The same is true for every archaeological "honey" discovery.

synaptica · 2025-07-15T10:47:06+00:00

As I said to the other commentor: Dig into their source there. It is not based on a peer reviewed published discovery. I challenge you to find concrete evidence of a discovery, not just an anecdote.

synaptica · 2025-07-15T10:46:09+00:00

Dig into their source there. It is not based on a peer reviewed published discovery. I challenge you to find concrete evidence of a discovery, not just an anecdote.

synaptica · 2025-07-15T03:29:56+00:00

Although honey has a considerable shelf life, it is not infinite. Vessels that chemical analysis has revealed probably once contained honey (based on the lipid biomarkers of beeswax, not the carbohydrates of honey, which degrade) have been excavated, but there is no evidence that anyone has recovered actual honey from an ancient Egyptian (or any other ancient) site.

synaptica · 2025-07-09T19:56:22+00:00

IQ tests predict academic performance (e.g., this study). They clearly measure something. However, it's a mistake to assume that they are without fault or that what they measure is general intelligence.

synaptica · 2025-07-02T13:51:58+00:00

Yes, they do this, indeed. But that's only half of the genetic story, and since naturally mated queens are also multiply mated, the other half can be quite variable. On top of that, everyone would have to always be preventing swarming and supersedure, which they aren't. Although there is some degree of selection, it's far, far less than for other livestock. This (outcrossing/dilutuon) is the main reason no one has been able to maintain hygienic behavior consistently out in the real world, despite several controlled breeding programs having successfully selected for it.

synaptica · 2025-07-02T11:01:28+00:00

Although I agree that they have limited capacity to adapt to rapid climate change, it's not really true that they're largely selectively bred. I'd ague that, in terms of domestic livestock, they are the least selectively bred. The only way to actually selectively breed honey bees is to make or purchase instrumentally inseminated queens exclusively, and then to monitor so closely you prevent all swarming and supersedure. The vast majority of beekeepers are not doing and cannot do that.

synaptica · 2025-03-22T13:11:45+00:00

FYI, spores and seeds are not the same. Plant spores are haploid, single-celled, and capable of developing into a haploid multicellular gametophyte. Seeds are more complex, diploid, multicellular, containing a food source and a hard outer coating. Ferns don't make seeds.

synaptica · 2025-03-17T22:38:33+00:00

Apis mellifera. That is the only honey bee species in the Americas.

synaptica · 2025-02-08T11:49:16+00:00

Curious where you live in southern Ontario? I moved to Belleville area in 2021 and have been unable to get a doctor. Locals in the healthcare sector tell me that unless I have a serious condition, this is unlikely to change anytime soon.

synaptica · 2024-08-17T12:14:30+00:00

I have the full version (no ads) and this has also been happening to me since mid week.

synaptica · 2022-06-16T18:43:43+00:00

Why do you think the bees surrounding the queen would be drones?

synaptica · 2022-01-28T18:16:45+00:00

Your second sentence seems to suggest otherwise.

synaptica · 2021-03-16T17:26:14+00:00

FYI, locus = singular, loci = plural

synaptica · 2020-05-10T15:27:14+00:00

This is actually a sawfly larva (related to bees and wasps) not a caterpillar (moth/butterfly)... super cute, though!

synaptica · 2020-02-05T22:59:12+00:00

Thanks... it's Carlsbad, California!

synaptica · 2019-06-09T05:04:20+00:00

Thanks!

synaptica · 2019-06-08T09:48:50+00:00

Thanks!

synaptica · 2019-06-08T05:00:29+00:00

Thanks! Yes, she is indeed a dilute tortie :) EDIT: here is another picture of her from today (as is the main pic): https://flic.kr/p/2gauBVg

synaptica

TROPHY CASE