It was meant to bee! Our state insect, the honeybee, was chosen because of its importance as a pollinator and a honey producer.
According to MU Extension, the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), also known as the common or western honeybee, is the most influential insect for humankind, both in history and in the honey and wax resources it provides.
For example, beeswax was among the first plastics used, along with other natural polymers. It has been in use for thousands of years, being found in ancient Egyptian tombs, wrecked Viking ships, and Roman ruins.
To read about Missourians who are sweet on beekeeping, click here.
This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.
Photo credit: Missouri Department of Conservation
Related Posts
Calamity Jane: Calamity Jane, was born at Princeton, MO.
Calamity Jane: Calamity Jane, was born at Princeton, MO.
Bring the Heat
Those who just can't get enough chips and dip won't want to miss the 417 Salsa Fest in Springfield. A celebration of all things salsa, the event features a salsa taste-off, a hot-pepper-eating contest, live music, Latin dancing, and more.
At Montauk State Park, a River is Born
Montauk State Park is one of the oldest in the Missouri State Park system. Visitors can see the headwaters that form the Current River, cast a line in a well-stocked trout run, explore a pre-Civil War mill, and maybe even spot a pair of bald eagles.
The Kansas City That Never Was
Sometimes it's fun to wonder "what if?" An exhibit at the Special Collections Gallery at the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Miller Nichols Library imagines how a number of proposed projects might have reshaped the Kansas City experience.