Witness the first 21 days of a bees life in 60 seconds

Bee populations are in decline due to pesticides and other environmental factors. Did you know that bees pollinate 1/3 of our food crops? So without bees, basically we are screwed!

In an attempt to better understand exactly what happens as a bee grows from an egg into an adult insect, photographer Anand Varma filmed the first 21 days of a bees life. You can watch below as these incredible little creatures develop.

The primary goal in photographing the bees was to learn how they interact with an invasive parasitic mite that has quickly become the greatest threat to bee colonies. Another major factor contributing to bee colony decline is that bees are getting addicted to pesticides!

Scientists suggest that the chemicals, which have similar molecular structures to that of nicotine, may be affecting the bee's brains in the same way humans are affected by cigarettes.

Lund University in Sweden carried out the first successful experiment on the effect these particular pesticides have on bees, and found that wild bee populations have halved around the fields that were treated with them. To be specific: bumblebee hives stopped growing and produced less queens when the chemical was present.

Check out this stunning 60 second clip presented by National Geographic. It doesn't include commentary, but Varma explains everything in a TED talk included below.

Now watch the photographer explain everything here...

Maybe we just need to understand bees more to realise their importance. However, their importance should probably be realised by now, seeing as without them so much of our food would not exist.

Read more here: Bees are getting addicted to pesticides, and it might be killing them

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