Alvanian bee
January 11, 2114
Octavio Briswald’s field notes
Written by Leonard Fitzmurdle
I am taking over field note duties today, as the captain has had an unfortunate reaction to subatomic venom.
At first glance the Alvanian bee resembles its Earth counterpart, the European honeybee. Closer inspection, however, reveals some intriguing differences.
The corbicula (or “pollen basket”) on the Alvanian bee’s tibia is unusually prominent, the exoskeleton itself fanning out to create multiple tiers of hollow cavities, which the bee fills with pollen. Similar protrusions of exoskeleton encircle the bee’s abdomen. Once the corbicula is overflowing, the bee continues packing pollen around the abdomen protrusions. When fully loaded with pollen, the bee’s size is increased significantly; reinforced longitudinal muscles help keep the bee in the air despite the added weight.
It seems that this large amount of pollen is needed to fuel the bioluminescent panel on the bee’s head, located where one would normally expect to find the oscelli. Through a complex fermentation process in an organ near the subesophageal ganglion, the pollen is transmuted into a chemical that, when combined with oxygen and a variety of specialized enzymes, emits a bright light.
This bioluminescence appears to be used as a communication tool. Fluctuations of magnesium ions allow the bee to flash the light in its head panel on and off, and can even produce changes in color. The pattern of flashes appears to signal the location of food or water sources to other bees; thus it functions as a glowing Morse code version of the Earth honeybee’s waggle dance.
It should be noted that Alvanian bees do not produce honey as we know it. Instead, they fill their hive with a sweet, sticky, amber-colored venom. It seems that this forms a protection against predators, compensating for the bees’ lack of stinging mechanism.
The impact and properties of this venom will, I’m sure, be recorded at length in Commander Briswald’s logs, once he has regained use of his limbs.
Other mentions: Quark anticipated his bar becoming busier than a Alvanian beehive (DS9)
