Re: We have two. What color is bees blood? and Are there poisonous bees?

Great questions! I had to look them up also (see references below):

1. Bees don't have "blood" the way we do - their whole body cavity is filled with a material called haemolymph, from which they get the nutrients (except oxygen) they need to survive. Haemolymph is colorless.
2. Are they poisonous? The problem here is that I am not entirely sure what you are asking. People and other animals can and do eat honey bees (in addition to their honey). They aren't all that tastey and it takes a lot of them to make a decent meal. Some people, however, are highly allergic to bees' venom and can suffer dangerous (potentially fatal) reactions to getting stung. If you are referring to Africanized bees being poisonous, the danger there is the swiftness and aggressiveness of their response to threats to their hive. As far as I know, there is no difference in the venom they produce.

Kieran

Good references for you if you are interested: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Beekeeping (I used this one) edited by Roger Morse and Ted Hooper

• Link for general honey bee biology
• More in-depth links for bee biology and behavior
• The National Honey Board