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[light music]
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[water trickling]
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[Narrator] In an Alpine
Valley in Austria
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winter is drawing to a close.
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For three months creatures have
sheltered from the elements.
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The forests are quiet,
the meadows empty.
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But at the foot of
an old maple tree,
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there's a hidden
hive of activity.
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Welcome to the secret
life of a honeybee.
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-[whooshing]
-[light dramatic music]
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Honeybees.
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10,000 of them.
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Born in the fall, their only
purpose: survive winter.
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Keep the colony
alive until spring.
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00:01:09,736 --> 00:01:12,940
Ahead of them lies an
extraordinary journey.
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Each bee flying
up to 5,000 miles
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in the constant search for food.
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Danger will come in many forms,
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but help is always on hand.
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Every bee will have
many roles to play
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to reap the bounty of spring.
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During the coldest months,
the queen has sheltered deep
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in the center of the
hive where it's warmest.
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She is the mother of
this vast sisterhood.
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Only she can lay
fertilized eggs.
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And now that winter's almost
over, she gets to work.
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One tiny egg per cell.
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The first new bees of spring.
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-[light music]
-[rustling]
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After three days,
the larvae hatch.
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A nurse bee delivers
its first meal.
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Royal jelly.
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A protein-rich milk
secreted by glands
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on the head of the nurser bee.
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-[tree rustling]
-[light music]
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The larvae grow rapidly,
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and after seven days, it's
time to close up the cell.
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A wax seal will keep it safe
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while inside the magic happens.
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Metamorphosis.
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[light music]
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[water rushing]
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[rustling]
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[water dripping]
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[rustling]
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10 days later, it's time.
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The new generation of spring
bees begins to emerge.
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-[light music]
-[rustling]
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Each bee must push and chew
its way out of the cell.
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A first test of strength.
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-[rustling]
-[light music]
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She's passed.
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But a worker moves in to
give her the once-over
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just to make sure.
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-[light music]
-[rustling]
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All good.
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The young bees are in need
of their first adult meal.
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Honey.
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Made in the fall and stored
in the colony's pantry
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to feed the bees through winter.
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So her nurse fetches her some
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-[rustling]
-[light music]
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and carefully carries it back.
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Her first taste of
flowers she's yet to see.
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At just a few hours old and
still covered in silver hair,
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the new bee meets the most
important member in the hive.
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The queen.
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[light music]
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Her scent is intoxicating
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and the bees can't
resist its pull.
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-[light music]
-[rustling]
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The young bees stroke
her, picking up her smell.
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It passes from bee to bee
throughout the colony,
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letting them all know their
queen is alive and well.
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Having met the queen, the new
bees get straight to work.
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First as nurses tending
eggs and feeding larvae.
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-[light music]
-[rustling]
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They're in attendance
as their younger sisters
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push their way out
of their cells.
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All the workers are female
born from the same mother,
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but with several possible
fathers called drones.
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-[light music]
-[rustling]
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One by one more new bees emerge.
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The colony is growing rapidly.
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By summer, there could
be 30,000 of them.
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With so many new mouths to feed,
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the stockpiled honey
will quickly run out.
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It's time for some workers
to venture outside.
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The air is still cold.
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Wings can seize up, leaving
bees unable to fly home.
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But a burst of sunshine
might be just enough.
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[light dramatic music]
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The first scouts of the season
head out across the valley
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in search of spring blooms.
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-[bee buzzing]
-[light music]
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Willows.
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Their flowers are some
of the first to appear.
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-[light music]
-[birds chirping]
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The bees get to work
collecting as much pollen
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as they can carry.
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It's one of the richest
sources of protein in nature.
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But it's not for them,
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it's for the new spring
bees back at the hive.
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The scouts pack the
pollen into tight pellets
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on their hind legs
bound with nectar
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and held in place by long hairs.
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-[light music]
-[rustling]
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[bee buzzing]
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They can carry up to a third
of their body weight this way.
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Soon everyone is on the move,
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lured into the sunshine
by the scent of spring.
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Each foraging honeybee
will harvest 3,000 flowers
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every single day.
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It's hard work.
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Back at the hive the
young spring bees wait,
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but their day will come.
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-[light music]
-[bees buzzing]
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[birds chirping]
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[bee buzzing]
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[playful music]
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The winter bees collect
the first food of the year
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and bring it home to
the growing colony.
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00:11:04,333 --> 00:11:08,104
By late March, the first
spring bees to hatch
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are about 18 days old.
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Old enough to become
foragers themselves.
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00:11:15,344 --> 00:11:18,714
But they have no idea where
to start looking for food.
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00:11:21,350 --> 00:11:24,387
The older winter bees
show them the way.
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-[upbeat music]
-[rustling]
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The wiggle dance gives a
clear set of instructions.
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If you pay close attention.
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The gyrating body points
in the right direction.
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The longer the dance, the
farther they have to go.
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-[upbeat music]
-[rustling]
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00:12:23,112 --> 00:12:27,049
Then the dancer gives everyone
a taste of the nectar.
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00:12:27,216 --> 00:12:30,052
That way the new
foragers will know
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they've found the right flower.
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[light music]
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[bee buzzing]
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It's time for the youngsters
to take their inaugural flight.
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[light music]
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[trees rustling]
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00:12:48,904 --> 00:12:50,339
[water trickling]
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00:12:50,439 --> 00:12:53,809
[birds chirping]
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00:12:53,909 --> 00:12:59,181
-[light dramatic music]
-[bees buzzing]
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00:13:02,184 --> 00:13:05,054
Older experienced bees
act as their guides
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and lead them into
the world outside.
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00:13:07,590 --> 00:13:10,626
-[light music]
-[wings flapping]
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[bee buzzing]
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00:13:19,802 --> 00:13:22,204
They follow the
dancer's instructions:
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00:13:23,472 --> 00:13:27,610
keep the sun on the
right, 30 degrees,
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00:13:27,710 --> 00:13:29,812
and fly about half a mile.
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00:13:31,213 --> 00:13:34,650
-[light music]
-[birds chirping]
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[bee buzzing]
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00:13:45,695 --> 00:13:49,131
Their antennae help them follow
the scent of their guides.
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00:13:51,167 --> 00:13:53,235
They know when
they're getting close.
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00:13:58,441 --> 00:13:59,542
There it is.
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An apple tree.
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-And there's the guide.
-[light music]
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Bees cooperate like this
well beyond the confines
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of their hive.
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00:14:23,666 --> 00:14:28,537
-[light music]
-[rustling]
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Together they waste no
time collecting pollen
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to feed the next round
of bees to emerge,
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and nectar to make more honey.
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00:14:49,659 --> 00:14:54,530
-[light music]
-[rustling]
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It's an intimate relationship
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that has lasted
millions of years.
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Plants and their pollinators.
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One cannot survive
without the other.
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00:15:10,980 --> 00:15:13,683
The world wasn't always
as colorful as this,
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-[light music]
-[bees buzzing]
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but as insects
learn to eat pollen,
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plants devised better
ways to attract them.
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Bright colors to
draw their attention.
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Sweet nectar to lure them in.
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The bees spread the
pollen they collect
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and the plants
spread far and wide.
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00:15:45,748 --> 00:15:50,953
-[light music]
-[birds chirping]
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00:15:53,990 --> 00:15:56,359
-[thunder rumbling]
-Change is in the air.
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The pressure drops.
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Experienced bees know it's
time to head home fast.
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But this young spring bee
is consumed by sweet nectar
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00:16:12,508 --> 00:16:16,345
and now she's in
very real danger.
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00:16:17,446 --> 00:16:20,016
-[light dramatic music]
-[rain tapping]
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00:16:20,182 --> 00:16:22,585
[whooshing]
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00:16:28,557 --> 00:16:31,327
[water splashing]
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00:16:31,427 --> 00:16:34,196
Rain can be deadly
for honeybees.
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Bees breathe through holes
in their hard exoskeleton.
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If water gets in, they drown.
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-[light music]
-[rain pattering]
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Flying becomes a
suicide mission.
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Each drop a missile
that can take you down.
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00:17:02,725 --> 00:17:07,697
-[whooshing]
-[somber music]
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00:17:15,838 --> 00:17:18,708
[water splashing]
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00:17:23,212 --> 00:17:26,215
[grass rustling]
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00:17:30,553 --> 00:17:34,657
Back at the hive, experienced
bees wait out the storm.
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00:17:37,193 --> 00:17:39,428
Any spring bee stuck
in the rain will
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00:17:39,528 --> 00:17:42,198
have to find her own way home.
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00:17:44,634 --> 00:17:47,069
[somber music]
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00:17:48,774 --> 00:17:52,478
Cold and drenched, this
spring bee caught in a storm
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00:17:52,578 --> 00:17:55,648
has no option but to
wait out the night.
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00:17:56,983 --> 00:17:59,585
[light music]
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00:17:59,685 --> 00:18:02,455
[grass rustling]
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00:18:06,526 --> 00:18:11,597
Sun at last, but can she
remember her way home?
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00:18:16,502 --> 00:18:17,537
[light music]
206
00:18:17,637 --> 00:18:20,273
She returns empty-handed.
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00:18:21,541 --> 00:18:24,143
It takes time to
become a good forager.
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00:18:25,411 --> 00:18:27,613
She'll have many
more chances to learn
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00:18:27,713 --> 00:18:29,649
where the best pollen lies
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00:18:29,749 --> 00:18:33,052
and when it's time to cut
her losses and head home.
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00:18:35,588 --> 00:18:40,459
-[light music]
-[rustling]
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00:18:52,038 --> 00:18:54,140
After a night out in the cold
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00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:56,709
the young bee is
in need of a rest.
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00:19:02,114 --> 00:19:05,384
Like all animals, bees sleep.
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00:19:06,786 --> 00:19:10,022
[light music]
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00:19:10,122 --> 00:19:12,391
Their brains might be tiny,
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00:19:12,492 --> 00:19:15,294
but they're not too
small to hold dreams.
218
00:19:17,730 --> 00:19:20,199
[light music]
219
00:19:25,538 --> 00:19:28,307
[rain pattering]
220
00:19:34,213 --> 00:19:39,418
-[water sloshing]
-[light dramatic music]
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00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:50,163
[rustling]
222
00:20:03,075 --> 00:20:06,045
[birds chirping]
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00:20:08,714 --> 00:20:11,717
The return of sunshine
lures some spring bees
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00:20:11,818 --> 00:20:14,053
back out of the hive.
225
00:20:14,153 --> 00:20:16,722
They've become scouts
and must search
226
00:20:16,789 --> 00:20:18,424
for new sources of food.
227
00:20:20,793 --> 00:20:25,565
-[cow moos]
-[light music]
228
00:20:25,731 --> 00:20:26,933
[bees buzzing]
229
00:20:27,033 --> 00:20:28,434
With their antennae,
230
00:20:28,534 --> 00:20:32,271
they can smell flowers
three miles away.
231
00:20:34,006 --> 00:20:39,212
-[light music]
-[bees buzzing]
232
00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:51,457
[church bells dinging]
233
00:20:51,557 --> 00:20:54,961
[bees buzzing]
234
00:20:55,061 --> 00:20:57,296
But while some are
quite adventurous,
235
00:20:57,396 --> 00:20:59,732
others are more averse to risk.
236
00:21:08,474 --> 00:21:12,778
They turn back, leaving the
bravest scouts to go it alone.
237
00:21:16,282 --> 00:21:21,420
-[light music]
-[wings flapping]
238
00:21:21,521 --> 00:21:24,323
[bees buzzing]
239
00:21:25,758 --> 00:21:26,792
Dead nettles.
240
00:21:28,294 --> 00:21:29,529
An appealing bloom.
241
00:21:32,732 --> 00:21:36,068
But this showy display
isn't for honeybees.
242
00:21:36,169 --> 00:21:41,207
-[bees buzzing]
-[birds chirping]
243
00:21:41,307 --> 00:21:42,942
[light music]
244
00:21:43,042 --> 00:21:45,144
Only a bumblebee can
reach deep enough
245
00:21:45,244 --> 00:21:47,246
into the flower to
suck up the nectar.
246
00:21:47,346 --> 00:21:52,418
-[bee buzzing]
-[light music]
247
00:21:58,558 --> 00:22:01,294
But sometimes
bumblebees cut straight
248
00:22:01,394 --> 00:22:03,296
into the petals at the base.
249
00:22:12,405 --> 00:22:16,542
An opportunity, perhaps, for
an enterprising young honeybee.
250
00:22:17,276 --> 00:22:23,115
-[light music]
-[bee buzzing]
251
00:22:31,757 --> 00:22:36,295
The bumblebee's leftovers
provide a small energy boost
252
00:22:36,395 --> 00:22:39,732
but the dead nettle patch won't
feed the rest of the colony.
253
00:22:43,469 --> 00:22:45,271
Time to keep searching.
254
00:22:48,174 --> 00:22:53,479
-[light dramatic music]
-[bee buzzing]
255
00:22:53,579 --> 00:22:58,117
As the scout flies, she scans
the ground for bright colors.
256
00:22:58,217 --> 00:23:01,187
[light music]
257
00:23:04,090 --> 00:23:06,559
Red is usually a good color.
258
00:23:15,735 --> 00:23:20,706
This tastes sweet like
nectar, but this is no flower.
259
00:23:35,588 --> 00:23:36,622
Uh oh.
260
00:23:37,957 --> 00:23:40,726
[dramatic music]
261
00:23:46,833 --> 00:23:49,435
[bee buzzing]
262
00:23:50,670 --> 00:23:53,339
A foraging honeybee
is unlikely to sting
263
00:23:53,439 --> 00:23:54,674
unless it's alarmed.
264
00:24:01,314 --> 00:24:03,683
Stinging is a
defensive move designed
265
00:24:03,749 --> 00:24:06,285
to protect the hive
from intruders.
266
00:24:08,688 --> 00:24:12,024
But if its barbed stinger
gets lodged in the skin,
267
00:24:12,124 --> 00:24:13,926
the honeybee will die.
268
00:24:17,597 --> 00:24:20,433
So it prefers to keep
its stinger intact.
269
00:24:22,702 --> 00:24:26,272
Leave it alone and it
will leave you alone.
270
00:24:26,372 --> 00:24:29,041
-[light music]
-[birds chirping]
271
00:24:29,142 --> 00:24:31,811
[bees buzzing]
272
00:24:37,717 --> 00:24:41,454
The scout returns home
with nothing to report,
273
00:24:41,554 --> 00:24:43,823
but at least she's
made it back alive.
274
00:24:46,859 --> 00:24:51,564
Inside the hive
things are changing.
275
00:24:51,664 --> 00:24:54,834
The colony has been
growing for a few weeks.
276
00:24:55,968 --> 00:25:00,840
-[light music]
-[rustling]
277
00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:12,084
By mid April it's time for
the winter bees to part ways.
278
00:25:14,554 --> 00:25:17,723
Their lives are
measured in wing beats.
279
00:25:17,824 --> 00:25:21,727
After 400 hours of
flight they die.
280
00:25:23,563 --> 00:25:25,765
A winter bee that spends
much of its time sheltered
281
00:25:25,865 --> 00:25:28,901
in the hive can last
six months or so.
282
00:25:32,872 --> 00:25:36,943
For a spring bee,
life will be shorter.
283
00:25:40,346 --> 00:25:43,916
Now the workers
become undertakers,
284
00:25:44,016 --> 00:25:46,118
dragging the bodies outside.
285
00:25:51,691 --> 00:25:57,363
An unceremonious end for
a life spent in servitude.
286
00:25:57,463 --> 00:26:02,668
-[light dramatic music]
-[rustling]
287
00:26:05,538 --> 00:26:07,673
[bees buzzing]
288
00:26:07,740 --> 00:26:10,409
All through the spring
the colony continues
289
00:26:10,510 --> 00:26:12,378
to increase its number.
290
00:26:12,478 --> 00:26:14,514
The need for food grows urgent.
291
00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,984
-[bee buzzing]
-[leaves rustling]
292
00:26:18,084 --> 00:26:20,586
A scout ventures out once more,
293
00:26:20,686 --> 00:26:23,356
this time heading for the woods.
294
00:26:25,758 --> 00:26:29,095
Spruce trees lack
colorful flowers
295
00:26:29,195 --> 00:26:32,064
but they still have
something to offer honeybees.
296
00:26:36,569 --> 00:26:39,472
-[leaves rustling]
-[light music]
297
00:26:39,572 --> 00:26:41,974
Their needles are
covered in aphids.
298
00:26:43,776 --> 00:26:47,713
Tiny bugs that feed
on the tree sap.
299
00:26:47,814 --> 00:26:52,985
As they drink, they excrete a
sugary liquid called honeydew.
300
00:26:53,085 --> 00:26:55,655
The spruce tree is covered in it
301
00:26:55,688 --> 00:26:59,725
and bees can turn
honeydew into honey.
302
00:27:02,995 --> 00:27:06,666
They store it in a separate
stomach called the honey sack
303
00:27:06,699 --> 00:27:08,701
where it mixes with
a special enzyme
304
00:27:08,801 --> 00:27:10,670
required for making honey.
305
00:27:13,272 --> 00:27:18,377
-[light music]
-[bees buzzing]
306
00:27:18,478 --> 00:27:21,481
Soon, others from
the colony arrive
307
00:27:25,451 --> 00:27:28,187
and ferry the honeydew
back to the nest.
308
00:27:29,322 --> 00:27:34,494
-[light music]
-[bees buzzing]
309
00:27:36,195 --> 00:27:38,397
[rustling]
310
00:27:38,498 --> 00:27:42,268
Inside they regurgitate
the honeydew enzyme mix
311
00:27:42,368 --> 00:27:44,804
into the wax cells for storage.
312
00:27:53,379 --> 00:27:54,680
But there's one more step
313
00:27:54,780 --> 00:27:57,150
before they can
close up the cells.
314
00:28:00,219 --> 00:28:03,289
To prevent fungus from
spoiling their treasure
315
00:28:03,389 --> 00:28:06,092
they must dehydrate it.
316
00:28:06,192 --> 00:28:10,129
Thousands of wing beats fan
the precious gold liquid,
317
00:28:10,229 --> 00:28:12,298
evaporating the water away until
318
00:28:12,398 --> 00:28:15,268
it's just the right consistency.
319
00:28:15,368 --> 00:28:19,472
-[light music]
-[wings buzzing]
320
00:28:19,572 --> 00:28:22,575
Finally on goes the waxy lid.
321
00:28:28,247 --> 00:28:31,150
The colony is already
building up supplies
322
00:28:31,250 --> 00:28:33,219
to see it through
the next winter.
323
00:28:36,055 --> 00:28:38,958
-[wind howling]
-[light music]
324
00:28:39,058 --> 00:28:39,492
[birds chirping]
325
00:28:48,708 --> 00:28:55,081
By May, life inside the
colony is getting crowded.
326
00:28:55,181 --> 00:28:57,883
There are more
than 40,000 of them
327
00:29:02,188 --> 00:29:07,293
and there are new, unusually
large cells in the nursery.
328
00:29:07,393 --> 00:29:09,295
-[light dramatic music]
-[rustling]
329
00:29:09,395 --> 00:29:10,596
Four of them.
330
00:29:11,697 --> 00:29:16,902
-[light dramatic music]
-[rustling]
331
00:29:42,461 --> 00:29:43,729
It's a queen.
332
00:29:49,468 --> 00:29:51,670
These are four new queens
333
00:29:51,771 --> 00:29:55,408
and they will have to
fight to claim the throne.
334
00:29:55,508 --> 00:30:00,279
-[light dramatic music]
-[rustling]
335
00:30:00,379 --> 00:30:03,416
[dramatic music]
336
00:30:13,993 --> 00:30:16,395
This will be a
fight to the death.
337
00:30:25,905 --> 00:30:29,308
The life of every queen
begins with violence
338
00:30:29,408 --> 00:30:31,444
and ends the same way.
339
00:30:32,311 --> 00:30:35,981
[light dramatic music]
340
00:30:36,082 --> 00:30:37,783
There can be only one queen,
341
00:30:39,452 --> 00:30:41,887
which means the old
queen must leave
342
00:30:41,987 --> 00:30:45,024
if she wants to survive.
343
00:30:45,124 --> 00:30:48,961
She'll take half the colony
with her to find a new home.
344
00:30:52,898 --> 00:30:56,369
Those destined to leave
start gorging on honey,
345
00:30:56,469 --> 00:30:58,838
fueling up for
the journey ahead.
346
00:31:00,172 --> 00:31:05,044
-[light music]
-[rustling]
347
00:31:08,414 --> 00:31:13,619
-[light dramatic music]
-[bees buzzing]
348
00:31:16,655 --> 00:31:21,494
Bees laden with honey begin
pouring from the hive.
349
00:31:25,331 --> 00:31:30,169
-[rustling]
-[light music]
350
00:31:34,340 --> 00:31:37,676
[bees buzzing]
351
00:31:37,777 --> 00:31:42,681
The old queen emerges
surrounded by loyal workers.
352
00:31:45,851 --> 00:31:50,056
It's her first sight of daylight
since her nuptial flight.
353
00:31:52,691 --> 00:31:54,627
Thousands take to the air
354
00:31:57,997 --> 00:32:01,400
waiting for their queen
to lead them into exile.
355
00:32:01,500 --> 00:32:06,105
-[bees buzzing]
-[light music]
356
00:32:06,272 --> 00:32:07,640
And still they come.
357
00:32:13,846 --> 00:32:18,818
A leap of faith toward
an uncertain future.
358
00:32:18,918 --> 00:32:21,721
Half the hive is on
the wing, swarming.
359
00:32:22,922 --> 00:32:27,993
-[bees buzzing]
-[light music]
360
00:32:30,796 --> 00:32:33,499
20,000 bees without a home.
361
00:32:43,843 --> 00:32:45,745
They begin to settle,
362
00:32:45,845 --> 00:32:48,881
a temporary rest stop
to gather the troops.
363
00:32:48,981 --> 00:32:54,153
-[light dramatic music]
-[bees buzzing]
364
00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:03,295
Huddled together, they must wait
365
00:33:07,867 --> 00:33:09,769
while a few scouts
set out to search
366
00:33:09,869 --> 00:33:11,771
for a new place to nest.
367
00:33:11,871 --> 00:33:16,876
-[light music]
-[birds chirping]
368
00:33:16,976 --> 00:33:19,578
[bees buzzing]
369
00:33:39,899 --> 00:33:43,069
A cluster of old cherry trees
might have what they need.
370
00:33:55,781 --> 00:33:58,384
A hole in the trunk
looks promising.
371
00:33:58,484 --> 00:34:00,786
Big enough for bees
but small enough
372
00:34:00,886 --> 00:34:02,955
to defend against enemies.
373
00:34:10,796 --> 00:34:13,265
The scout moves
in to investigate.
374
00:34:22,808 --> 00:34:26,178
She carefully inspects
every nook and cranny.
375
00:34:29,882 --> 00:34:34,587
-[light dramatic music]
-[rustling]
376
00:34:34,687 --> 00:34:39,859
It's empty and it's dry,
but is it big enough?
377
00:34:43,696 --> 00:34:45,064
She paces it out.
378
00:34:54,373 --> 00:34:57,810
Up to 50,000 bees when
the colony is full grown
379
00:34:57,910 --> 00:34:59,912
is a lot to accommodate.
380
00:35:03,716 --> 00:35:05,251
It's perfect.
381
00:35:05,317 --> 00:35:07,753
[bee buzzing]
382
00:35:11,590 --> 00:35:14,460
There's just one
more thing to check.
383
00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:17,029
The entrance must face east
384
00:35:17,129 --> 00:35:19,365
so the morning
sun warms the bees
385
00:35:19,465 --> 00:35:21,500
before their workday begins.
386
00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:27,473
-[light music]
-[birds chirping]
387
00:35:27,573 --> 00:35:29,942
She's found an ideal spot.
388
00:35:31,510 --> 00:35:36,716
-[dramatic music]
-[bees buzzing]
389
00:35:40,619 --> 00:35:43,222
The bees waste no
time getting to work.
390
00:35:45,458 --> 00:35:48,494
They must start from scratch
building their new home.
391
00:35:49,895 --> 00:35:52,698
Remarkably, they have
almost everything
392
00:35:52,798 --> 00:35:55,434
they need already with them.
393
00:35:55,534 --> 00:35:59,238
They secrete liquid wax from
glands under their abdomen
394
00:35:59,271 --> 00:36:02,508
which hardens into scales
when exposed to the air.
395
00:36:10,416 --> 00:36:14,253
Chewing softens the wax so
they can mold it into shape.
396
00:36:15,921 --> 00:36:19,091
Their bodies form the
scaffolding for the hive,
397
00:36:19,258 --> 00:36:21,427
clinging to each
other as they build
398
00:36:21,527 --> 00:36:24,263
the structure piece by piece.
399
00:36:24,363 --> 00:36:28,667
Within a week there's up to
three pounds of honeycomb
400
00:36:28,768 --> 00:36:32,705
laid out in perfectly
neat hexagonal cells
401
00:36:32,805 --> 00:36:35,408
ready for the queen's eggs.
402
00:36:37,543 --> 00:36:39,779
[bees buzzing]
403
00:36:39,879 --> 00:36:41,247
[light music]
404
00:36:41,347 --> 00:36:42,415
It's late May.
405
00:36:43,841 --> 00:36:45,242
It hasn't rained in days.
406
00:36:46,243 --> 00:36:48,112
A heatwave bears down.
407
00:37:01,091 --> 00:37:04,995
Inside the new hive the
bees are struggling.
408
00:37:05,095 --> 00:37:08,298
They must keep a
constant 96 degrees,
409
00:37:08,398 --> 00:37:11,802
otherwise the brood of
new eggs is in danger.
410
00:37:16,974 --> 00:37:21,145
-[light dramatic music]
-[wings flapping]
411
00:37:21,245 --> 00:37:23,113
Fanning cools the nest.
412
00:37:27,484 --> 00:37:29,319
But they can't
keep it up forever.
413
00:37:33,490 --> 00:37:35,092
[light music]
414
00:37:35,192 --> 00:37:39,363
To solve this problem, the
bees must look farther afield.
415
00:37:40,964 --> 00:37:46,036
-[light dramatic music]
-[wings flapping]
416
00:37:46,870 --> 00:37:49,706
[bees buzzing]
417
00:37:54,878 --> 00:37:56,680
Reflections below.
418
00:37:58,916 --> 00:38:01,051
And that means water.
419
00:38:02,419 --> 00:38:05,389
[water trickling]
420
00:38:21,105 --> 00:38:23,841
A single drop is
all she can carry,
421
00:38:25,876 --> 00:38:31,081
but an army of thousands,
that's another matter entirely.
422
00:38:34,618 --> 00:38:39,790
Together they can move a gallon
of water in a single day.
423
00:38:41,625 --> 00:38:46,964
Drop by precious drop the bees
ferry water into the hive.
424
00:38:48,565 --> 00:38:51,769
Then fire up their
engines once more.
425
00:38:53,837 --> 00:38:57,775
-Air conditioning.
-[wings flapping]
426
00:38:58,976 --> 00:39:02,880
As the water evaporates,
it cools the hive.
427
00:39:02,980 --> 00:39:08,051
-[bees buzzing]
-[light music]
428
00:39:12,556 --> 00:39:15,926
-And then-
-[thunder rumbling]
429
00:39:17,428 --> 00:39:19,229
Nature lends a hand.
430
00:39:20,697 --> 00:39:25,836
-[light music]
-[rain pattering]
431
00:39:35,145 --> 00:39:39,616
With the arrival of summer the
colony shifts into overdrive,
432
00:39:39,716 --> 00:39:41,051
building up its numbers
433
00:39:41,151 --> 00:39:43,887
and setting workers
to the task ahead.
434
00:39:47,291 --> 00:39:48,759
Winter.
435
00:39:48,859 --> 00:39:50,561
It's seven months away,
436
00:39:50,661 --> 00:39:53,764
but they need to
stock up on honey now.
437
00:39:55,032 --> 00:39:57,634
A constant stream
of foragers returns
438
00:39:57,734 --> 00:39:59,970
laden with pollen and nectar,
439
00:40:00,070 --> 00:40:02,773
two to four pounds
of it, every day.
440
00:40:07,077 --> 00:40:09,580
But others want
in on the action.
441
00:40:09,680 --> 00:40:12,916
-[dramatic music]
-[bees buzzing]
442
00:40:13,016 --> 00:40:15,519
Hornets have found the nest.
443
00:40:23,093 --> 00:40:26,130
The bees try to fight
them off to no avail.
444
00:40:28,665 --> 00:40:33,036
One-on-one in mid-flight
they don't stand a chance.
445
00:40:35,806 --> 00:40:38,208
They must all
return to the hive.
446
00:40:39,343 --> 00:40:44,515
-[light dramatic music]
-[bees buzzing]
447
00:40:53,290 --> 00:40:56,860
But the invaders will
follow them inside.
448
00:41:07,738 --> 00:41:10,140
The hornets aren't
here for honey,
449
00:41:10,307 --> 00:41:12,676
it's the larvae they're after.
450
00:41:12,776 --> 00:41:17,147
-[light music]
-[rustling]
451
00:41:17,314 --> 00:41:20,818
The bees must come
together and stand as one.
452
00:41:20,918 --> 00:41:23,987
[dramatic music]
453
00:41:24,088 --> 00:41:27,991
Hundreds of Davids
against a mighty Goliath.
454
00:41:28,092 --> 00:41:33,330
-[dramatic music]
-[rustling]
455
00:41:46,477 --> 00:41:49,279
Their stings deliver
multiple doses of venom.
456
00:41:54,284 --> 00:41:57,054
The poison proves too
much for the hornet,
457
00:41:59,890 --> 00:42:02,693
but this wasn't a solo mission.
458
00:42:02,793 --> 00:42:06,196
[dramatic music]
459
00:42:08,165 --> 00:42:10,567
The bees race to
block the entrance.
460
00:42:11,435 --> 00:42:13,403
Their strength in sisterhood.
461
00:42:15,038 --> 00:42:17,574
No intruder can
penetrate this shield.
462
00:42:20,010 --> 00:42:25,182
-[bee buzzing]
-[light music]
463
00:42:32,523 --> 00:42:34,992
The colony is safe.
464
00:42:35,092 --> 00:42:40,230
-[light music]
-[rustling]
465
00:42:43,634 --> 00:42:45,135
It's been eight weeks
466
00:42:45,269 --> 00:42:48,305
since the first spring bees
emerged from their cells.
467
00:42:49,940 --> 00:42:52,443
A long time for
such a hard worker.
468
00:42:54,978 --> 00:43:00,184
Now their wings are torn,
their muscles spent.
469
00:43:03,353 --> 00:43:06,523
They've nursed, they've foraged,
470
00:43:07,958 --> 00:43:10,461
they've scouted, and built.
471
00:43:11,628 --> 00:43:14,798
But, like the flowers
they depend on,
472
00:43:14,898 --> 00:43:16,700
there's a limit to their season.
473
00:43:17,434 --> 00:43:19,503
-[light music]
-[birds chirping]
474
00:43:19,603 --> 00:43:22,706
The time has come for
them to fade away.
475
00:43:24,575 --> 00:43:27,177
It's been a good life.
476
00:43:27,311 --> 00:43:28,779
-A bee's life.
-[water splashing]
477
00:43:28,879 --> 00:43:34,017
-[light music]
-[bees buzzing]
478
00:43:39,990 --> 00:43:42,760
[birds chirping]
38497
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