A beekeeper has underlined the positive impact of pollinator appreciation initiatives on the minds of city residents.
Solomon Jeong is an urban apiarist in Washington, D.C. where citizens and government institutions have put in some effort to increase the number of bees and improve the condition of the local ecosystem.
Speaking to CBS News, Solomon said: “A lot more people are more aware of how important bees are as well as how cute they are.”
He added: “If you see a photo, they’re fuzzy and round. It’s almost like a teddy bear or something.”
Referring to widespread misconceptions and fear, the engaged beekeeper emphasised: “Honeybees are not going to be interested in you or your food. They’re not going to be like ‘Oh, there’s a human, let’s go sting them.'”
Justin O. Schmidt from the University of Arizona recently advised anyone approached by a bee not to flap their arms as this would only “make everything worse.”
Speaking to the Scientific American, the entomologist said the insects might feel threatened.
Experts from EcoGuard Pest Management, which operates in four US States, urge individuals to cover their beverages and drinks. They also suggest diffusing essential oils such as lavender, citrus, peppermint and cinnamon as bees “dislike” them.
