Unless you're an entomologist or a beekeeper, bees typically inspire one thing: fear.
除非你是昆虫学者或养蜂人,否则一提到蜜蜂,映入脑中的首先可能是可怕。
But most bees are non-aggressive, and only sting when provoked.
但是,大多数的蜜蜂并不具备攻击性,而蜜蜂蜇人是万不得而为之!
In fact, once you get beyond the stinger, bees are pretty fascinating.
事实上,一旦你跨越了蜜蜂蜇人这道屏障,你会发现它们有着令人着迷的魔力。
For example, honeybees are great builders.
比如蜜蜂是伟大的建筑师。
Beehive construction begins with finding a suitable site.
蜂巢建造首先从寻觅合适的搭建处开始。
Scout bees seek hollow spaces in trees and human-made structures.
侦察蜂在树木和人造结构寻找中空的空间。
Such spaces must be able to hold at least six and a half gallons, and have a small entrance that faces south for warmth.
这样的空间须得至少6.5加仑的空间,而且入口面朝温暖的南方。
Once they've found the perfect spot, the scouts prepare the site by clearing away loose wood or other rubbish and coat the space with a dried tree resin called propolis.
一旦找到绝佳的建造蜂巢点,侦察蜂会做好准备工作:清理掉松动的木材或其它杂物,在表层涂上被称为蜂胶的干树脂。