A bear, a few bees and a lot of spiders

“One day when he was out walking, he came to an open place in the middle of the forest, and in the middle of this place was a large oak-tree, and, from the top of the tree, there came a loud buzzing-noise.
Winnie-the-Pooh sat down at the foot of the tree. Put his head between his paws and began to think.
First of all he said to himself: ‘That buzzing-noise means something. You don’t get a buzzing-noise like that, just buzzing and buzzing, without its meaning something – and the only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you’re a bee.’
Then he thought another long time, and said: ‘And the only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey.’ “

(From the book ‘Winnie-The-Pooh’ by A. A. Milne)

Alan Alexander Milne’s book ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ was released 82 years ago today, on October 14 1926.
I like bees for the same reason as Pooh Bear: Honey. But this summer, I have noticed a disturbing lack of bees. I have heard about parasites being the reason for a recent decline in the population of bumble bees, but scientists believe that this parasite does not affect honey bees. But it is a fact that the honey industry has been plagued with colony collapse disorder in recent years.

I do not know if another plague is also worldwide or just a local phenomenon. But this year has shown a disturbing increase in spiders. I may have seen more spiders this year, than all other years combined! I do not like spiders. I hate spiders! But seeing so many has almost made me loose my fear for spiders. But I still do not like them at all!

I like bees.