Hive Design

The recent disappearance of vast numbers of worker bees from their colonies sounded an unexpectedly resonant ecological alarm. It quickly became clear—to beekeepers, scientists, and the average honey-eating consumer alike—that a decline of bee populations would lead not only to higher price tags on our beloved natural sweetener but also potentially to the disastrous malfunctioning of entire ecosystems. Campaigns were launched, blockbuster movies were made, and educational curricula were developed, all with the goal of raising awareness about the plight of a tiny creature we’d long thought of only for its ability to produce exquisite honey and inflict equally exquisite pain.