I'm sitting enjoying the sun, with Insiders on the TV and watching the bumblebees outside the window. Bumblebees are not all the same size and there's one monster which must be an inch long.
For years, against all the evidence to the contrary, scientists held to the belief that bumblebees could not fly. It's only recently that they have admitted their understanding was flawed and, of course, bumblebee flight is possible. I'm glad that's been cleared up.
Bumblebees only arrived in Tasmania about 20 years ago when a fertile queen, accidentally or deliberately, arrived here from New Zealand. Since then, they have spread across most of the state, but not yet to the mainland where honey producers are worried they might add to the danger of some horrible disease affecting honey bees.
Tasmanian tomato producers are keen to use bumblebees to help pollinate their plants but the authorities are very reluctant. Where will it all end?
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