Natural History Museum welcomes new bee colony to exhibit
LAWRENCE — The KU Natural History Museum will welcome a new bee colony to its bee tree and observation hive on the sixth floor of Dyche Hall on Friday, May 9.
Bees enter and exit the hive through a clear tube connected to an eastern-facing window.
The colony replaces bees that died as a result of unseasonably cold and snowy winter weather that closed KU for two days.
“Modifications have been made so that a shield can be inserted to block cold winds from entering directly into the hive during severe winter weather events," said Bruce Scherting, director of exhibits.
A gift from a KU alumna in honor of KU alumni Lawrence B. and Frances Moore of Lawrence funded the purchase of the new bee colony.
The Museum has improved the bee exhibit by placing a camera inside the hive that is connected to a live feed hosted by Grit Magazine. It is available online. Additional improvements are in the planning stages.
News about the struggles of pollinators — including bees, but also monarch butterflies and bats — has fueled interest in the bee tree exhibit. It remains one of the most popular exhibits of the museum.