私達がお世話になっている蜂蜜は、Honey we usually have is mainly gathered by Western bees. 主に西洋ミツバチが集めているものです。その理由は主に2つあり、It is because Western ones can gather more nectar than Japanese ones, about twice as much. 第1に、西洋ミツバチの方がたくさん蜜を集められること(ニホンミツバチの2倍ほど)、第2に、ニホンミツバチは野生種で管理が難しいことです。Secondly, Japanese bees are basically wild, whose nests are difficult to manage by humans.
でも、最近はニホンミツバチを趣味で育てたり、In recent years, however, some people grow Japanese ones as a hobby, and some agricultural high schools do horticulture in order for students to have hands-on experiences to feel structures of the ecosystem. 農業高校で養蜂を通じて自然の生態系の仕組みを実感する授業が行われたりしているそうです。
ニホンミツバチは敏感で、These bees are so sensitive that they often abandon their nests immediately when there are fewer flowers around or when they get scared by road constructions going on near their places. 近くの蜜を取れる植物が減ったり、道路工事が行われるだけで怖がって元の巣を捨てて引っ越してしまうらしいですが、それだけ生態系の変化を表してくれるとも言えそうです。So they can be the indicator to show changes in the ecosystem.
話を聞いていると可愛らしく思えてきますが、To hear their stories, they come to appear so cute, but when hornets attack their nests to get their infants, 肉食のスズメバチがミツバチの子供を襲おうとやってくると、集団で立ち向かい、these little beas face the big attackers making a ball themselves. 蜂の玉になってスズメバチを包んでしまい、They exert heat with their wings to kill the enemy. 熱を出して殺します。その間に仲間の一部も死んでしまいますが、While they are at it, some of them die, their bravity can't be comparable with humans. その勇敢さは人間の比ではありません。人から見てもスズメバチは怖いのに、Although Hornets are fearful even for us, 自分の4倍もある敵に恐れず向かっていく姿に感動します。these bees attack back them that are about four times as big as the bees, so impressive.
今回もJapanologyPlusのエピソードから書かせて頂きました。I wrote this post by watching an episode from the TV program called Japanology Plus. ピーター・バラカンさんの味見していた蜂蜜を食べたくなりました。Its MC Peter Balakan tried the honey in it. I'd like to do so, too.