But before you go putting your hand into a beehive, remember this: The hive
is the center of the bees’world. It is not only where they store the products
of their hard work, but also where they raise their young. The hive is,
therefore, so important that every worker is willing to lay down its life to
protect it, should its safety be threatened. A group of worker bees can kill an
animal--or even a person--with their stings.

This defense, however, comes at a high price. Soon after stinging its victim,
a honeybee will die. These little soldiers make this sacrifice without a second
thought, as they are driven by instinct alone. So remember, when you are near a
beehive, you can’t“bee”careful enough!

大多数成熟工蜂的职责就是离巢采集花蜜。一返回蜂房，它们便将花蜜储存在被称作“六角形蜂窝”的蜂房壁上的小巢中，我们就是从那里采集蜂蜜的。

但在你把手伸进蜂房前，切记这点：蜂房是蜜蜂世界的中心。那里不但是它们存放辛苦采回的蜂蜜所在，同时也是哺育幼蜂的地方。正因为蜂房如此重要，所以一旦蜂房的安全受到威胁，每只工蜂都会不惜牺牲性命来捍卫它。一群工蜂可以用它们的刺杀死一只动物——甚至一个人！

不过，这样的防御行为付出的代价很高。蜜蜂蛰过受害者后，不久就会死亡。这些小尖兵毫不犹豫做出这样的牺牲，只因本能驱使它们勇往直前。所以记住了，当你靠近蜂巢时，千万不可掉以轻心！