Vegas Bees' Secret World of Bees

If you've ever wondered "can bees see red?" or "what colors can bees see?", you're not alone. Bee vision is one of nature's most fascinating adaptations, and understanding how bees see can help you create better gardens, appreciate pollination, and learn about the hidden world of color invisible to human eyes. The short answer: No, bees cannot see red . But the complete story of bee eyesight is far more interesting than a simple yes or no. Listen to This Article: What Colors

The Unsung Gear of Every Beekeeper: Why the Right Socks Matter When most people picture a beekeeper, they think of veils, gloves, and suits. But few realize that what’s underneath all that gear, especially on your feet, can make or break a hot day in the bee farm. At Vegas Bees, we’ve learned that a solid pair of socks isn’t just about comfort. It’s part of your protection, endurance, and focus when you’re working hives in the desert heat. The socks we wear at Vegas Bees are

Bee Washboarding and What We Know About This Strange Hive Behavior We see bees washboarding in the warmer months here in Las Vegas, and it never fails to grab our attention. We love to watch dozens or even hundreds of workers moving back and forth in near-perfect unison on the front of the hive. It is so beautifully weird to see. They stroke the surface with their front legs and rock their bodies in a strange, hypnotic rhythm, creating a faint scratching sound like sandpaper

Can Bees Survive in Space? Bees are essential to life on Earth, but what happens when bees leave the planet? Can they fly, build honeycomb, or even survive without gravity? Yes, bees can survive in space - but it's complicated. Can they fly?  Sort of - they struggle initially, drifting and tumbling instead of controlled flight, but adapt over time. Can they build honeycomb?  Yes - the 1984 mission proved bees construct perfectly normal comb in zero gravity. Bottom line : Bees

The Ancient Wisdom of the Bee Spirit Guide. Many people feel a deep connection to bees, sensing that they carry messages meant specifically for them. If you've found yourself repeatedly drawn to bees, noticing them in unexpected places, or feeling moved by their presence, you might be wondering: could the bee be your spirit animal? Listen to this Article: Understanding Spirit Animals The concept of spirit animals originates from various Indigenous traditions, where animals se

We've just finished extracting honey and are feeling relief and exhaustion. But the job isn’t over yet. Those sticky frames we've pulled from the extractor still need proper care before we can stash them away. What we do next can make the difference between clean, ready-to-go comb next spring, or a wax moth nightmare waiting (and it will) happen. At Vegas Bees, we’ve learned that post-extraction management can save hours of work later and keep your bees healthier long term. H

Yellow jackets are social wasps that build elaborate paper nests, and understanding their behavior can help you coexist with or safely remove them when necessary. What Is in a Yellow Jacket Nest? Yellow jacket nests are architectural marvels made from paper-like material the wasps create by chewing wood fibers mixed with their saliva. Inside, you'll find hexagonal cells arranged in horizontal combs, stacked in tiers. These cells serve as nurseries for larvae and storage for f

Understanding How They Sense Emotions and Movement. Bees do not literally “smell fear” the way movies might imply, but they are exquisitely tuned to chemical cues, alarm pheromones, vibrations, and changes in behavior. Those signals tell a colony when to relax, forage, or defend. Knowing how they sense the world lets you prevent escalation and work with bees confidently. Below I explain the science in plain language, then give step-by-step, seasonally practical actions you ca

How Bees Became Symbols of Fertility in Myths and Stories . For thousands of years, bees have been more than honey-makers. They’ve been sacred symbols of fertility, messengers of creation, and keepers of life’s sweetest mysteries. Across cultures and centuries, these pollinators have represented something profound: the power to create, nurture, and sustain life. We know personally when couples are trying to conceive, the wait can be heavy with emotion. Hope, disappointment, a

Recognizing the Signs of Nectar Shortage in Your Apiary. When flowers dry up and the landscape turns brown, the hive’s behavior changes fast. As a beekeeper, I’ve learned to recognize the subtle and not-so-subtle signs of a nectar dearth long before the bees run out of food. Understanding what happens inside the hive during this stressful period is key to keeping colonies healthy and preventing chaos. What Is a Nectar Dearth? A nectar dearth occurs when flowering plants stop

A Beekeeper’s Guide to Doing It Safely and Ethically When people call us about bees swarming around their birdbath, we always start with one simple truth: bees aren’t there to bother you. They’re thirsty. They’re collecting water for their colony to cool the hive and feed brood. So the goal isn’t to “get rid of” them, it’s to redirect them  safely. As beekeepers, we’ve dealt with this countless times. From backyard birdbaths to pool edges and dripping sprinklers, bees natural

What Is The Spiritual Meaning of Bees Flying Around You? Us Beekeepers Have The Answers. When bees fly around you, many cultures and spiritual traditions see it as more than just chance. Because bees have been symbols of community, diligence, fertility, and divine order for thousands of years, their presence is often interpreted as carrying a message. Here’s how we frame it from our own perspective as beekeepers that work closely with honeybees every day. A Sign of Alignment

Let's Look Inside the Mind of a Honey Bee. As a beekeeper, I get asked this question all the time: “Do bees even have brains?”  The...

What Are Vulture Bees? Most bees live on nectar and pollen, but one strange rainforest species has evolved to thrive on carrion. Vulture...

From My Hives to the Promised Land: Bees in the Old Testament. Bees and honey buzz through the pages of the Old Testament Bible as symbols of abundance, sweetness, and community. As a beekeeper I can’t help but smile at these images: watching bees returning to overflowing hives on a summer days make the promise of a “land flowing with milk and honey” feel vivid and real. But the Bible’s bee imagery wasn’t just poetic. Archaeology confirms that ancient Israelites practiced ser

Back in 2020, when the world was already on edge from the pandemic, another alarming headline began spreading like wildfire: "Murder Hornets Have Arrived in the U.S." The phrase instantly captured attention and stirred up fear. It sounded like something out of a murder hornets movie, and with everything else happening, people were ready to believe the worst. As a beekeeper, I paid close attention from the very beginning. Anything that threatens honey bees also threatens food

Key Takeaways for Forest Beekeeping: Forests provide diverse forage but also introduce challenges like predators and dampness. Hive...

When bees move into your home or yard, the first question I usually hear is, “How much is this going to cost?” That’s a fair question,...

The Rise of Backyard Beekeeping in Las Vegas. Over the years, Pete and I have had several situations just like the one we faced...

You Got Bees and Many Questions Hi, we're Betsy and Pete from Vegas Bees. When you call us, you’re often dealing with a stressful...