bees

Hurling Hives

The ancient Romans used bees and hornets’ nests as weapons of war. The nests were placed inside breakable clay urns and then catapulted onto the decks of enemy ships. During sieges, the Romans drilled down vertically into the tunnels their… Read More

Buzz Off

In 1642, during the Thirty Years War, when soldiers attacked a village in Prussia the nuns from the town’s convent overturned the convent’s beehives. The angry bees drove back the attackers. The grateful townsfolk renamed their village Beyenburg (Bee town).… Read More

Reel Bugs: The Swarm

My loyal readers know that from time to time I review insect-themed horror films on this blog. It’s one way to understand the relationship between humans and insects. Today’s review: The Swarm (Warner Brothers, 1978). The Swarm is about a… Read More