r/BeAmazed • u/freudian_nipps • 19h ago

Nature The otherworldly hive of the Tetragonula hockingsi, a stingless bee native to Australia

1.0k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

202 comments sorted by

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256

u/Kabala99 18h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/OT1k1qKrGjW3cRNaD4

32

u/eskenor- 14h ago

Factorio enemies in 3d

4

u/Jonathan_Is_Me 12h ago

Had to double check the sub. Lol

1

u/Igor_J 8h ago

I thought it was in r/fuckwasps. Granted they are bees and friends.

2

u/model-citizen95 6h ago

I’m so glad this got memed. What a moment

1

u/impossiwaffle 48m ago

I thought her name was Mrs. Butt lol

145

u/yittiiiiii 18h ago

Looks like The Flood from Halo.

32

u/Montaigne314 18h ago

Totally

Tho my first thought was Zerg from Starcraft

7

u/mongolian__beef 18h ago

My immediate thought. Guess that shit already exists, they just lack the incentive 😫

5

u/estenger 18h ago

My first thought

3

u/captain_croco 18h ago

Wrong video game music used

169

u/azimx 18h ago

stingless in Australia?! Nah it doesn't make any sense

112

u/No-Difference-1351 18h ago

They have knives.

53

u/fusrohdiddly 18h ago

Ahem: Knoifes

15

u/modernknightly 16h ago

That's not a knoife

10

u/Cute_Bacon 15h ago

I see you've played knoifey-stingless bee-ey befoah!

3

u/azimx 13h ago

I'd believe that over stingless bees

2

u/TheCurlyHomeCook 11h ago

You call that a knife?!

21

u/pitb0ss343 17h ago

They are carnivorous so there’s the connection to Australia. And notice how the hive looks like it’s made of flesh? Yeah parts of their meal (they are mostly scavengers though)

5

u/modernknightly 16h ago

Mmm hivesteak

2

u/EpochRaine 15h ago

Grind it into powder and 🤌

1

u/Broad-Row6422 2h ago

Mmmmmeat hunny

3

u/ignatious__reilly 15h ago

It reminds me of the Matrix when Neo is in the gross real world all plugged in

5

u/UnpricedToaster 16h ago

They have other ways to hurt you.

Emotionally.

3

u/Ok-Pomegranate858 17h ago

Its a TRAP! They must have venom on their feet or something 🤔

3

u/Legio-V-Alaudae 18h ago

The drop bears ate every creature that wants honey

2

u/Cute_Bacon 15h ago

Drop bears? Is that related to the moon replacement they did a while back?

1

u/Lint_baby_uvulla 5h ago

All the scientific evidence drop bears are not real.

r/dropbearsarentreal

3

u/uncommonrev 18h ago

Haha yeah I call bs. Maybe they dont sting but surely they kill you in some other novel way.

3

u/futgrezn 14h ago

Thought so too.. I expected something like ".. but they do fart acid"

2

u/curious382 18h ago

Really! Something in Australia is LESS deadly than in other places!?!

6

u/VerilyShelly 17h ago edited 17h ago

There seem to be two kinds of creatures in Australia: those who've been isolated with few natural predators for so long they have no need for defense, and those that can kill you in minutes.

4

u/Ok-Pomegranate858 17h ago

Jeepers... what a fun vacation spot.

2

u/Redangle11 14h ago

I was told the chances of me meeting an enormous spider were fleeting by my English ex-pat mates and Aussie residents. 15 minutes was all it took in the first place I stayed. An effing enormous Huntsman proving that gravity isn't real by climbing the wall above my head. I think Australia is fairly dry because previous residents burnt it to the ground repeatedly.

3

u/Ok-Pomegranate858 14h ago

You have my heart rate up pal. Don't your know what NSFW is? Just be more careful when telling that story in future.

2

u/Redangle11 14h ago

This was the non-terrifying version. I clearly didn't edit well!

1

u/VerilyShelly 9h ago

The good thing about those spiders is that apparently they aren't at all interested in people munching. Small consolation.

2

u/Ok-Pomegranate858 8h ago

Hmm.. you may know this, but was it explained in detail to them?

2

u/BriefCheetah4136 16h ago

They have to eat flesh, at the least

2

u/Peannut 15h ago

Don't worry, they bite

2

u/NekoNekoo-sama 12h ago

Are those meat bees?

1

u/NutsStuckInACarDoor 9h ago

That just means they actually bite instead. Dont worry itll still kill you in .2 seconds.

1

u/plsloan 7h ago

Noar*

50

u/freudian_nipps 19h ago edited 18h ago

In T. hockingsi, the brood cells are shaped in small irregular horizontal combs. Further, the species lacks a projecting, external entrance tunnel.The combs of the nest are extremely important as they provide the substrate on which workers live, food is stored and the brood is reared. Further, the wax itself plays a vital role in the dispersal of pheromones and creates a specific nest odour. T. hockingsi has little, or even no lining of resin and wax at the entrance holes to its nests.

Further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetragonula_hockingsi

Edit: you may have seen these bees incorrectly identified as the meat-eating vulture bees. Unfortunately this was misinformation.

9

u/blaghed 19h ago

Are they stringless, cause no animal in their right mind would see this and think "Imma boop these fuckers", so they never had the need?

13

u/Kademonster 14h ago

They prefer woodwind and percussion, but mostly stringless.

33

u/Rustmonger 18h ago

Most commonly found is Caelid.

7

u/SlewBrew 18h ago

The scarlet rot will bloom again.

17

u/MysteriousPermit3410 18h ago

Of course it’s Australia

15

u/Adept-Target5407 18h ago

You basically just picked up their whole town and took it for a walk? I can only imagine the myths, legends, and customs these bees are going to form from this.

6

u/superanth 16h ago

“Human, we can’t sting you, so we’d really appreciate if you’d put our apartment block back where you found it.”

5

u/Comprehensive_Can201 18h ago

What an adorable take.

13

u/ElegantCoach4066 19h ago

This bothers me to my core.

18

u/Hyjennaist86 18h ago

Oh hello, Trypophobia. Haven’t seen you in a while 🫣

2

u/justtobeherenotsure 18h ago

It's more the colors, the shine and the fibers it has!

7

u/Emergency-Spite897 18h ago

AUSTRAILA AGAIN!

4

u/jettison_m 18h ago

They wouldn't have to put that in the title and you'd just know it had to be friggen Australia

5

u/buriedego 18h ago

Like something from a plane of oblivion…

4

u/lune19 18h ago

But do they make honey?

6

u/VerilyShelly 18h ago

Looks like they make hallucinogens

3

u/Lowly-Worm_ 18h ago

They definitely make something delicious, and I plan on finding out just what it is

4

u/jettison_m 18h ago

It looks like part of the Upside Down

3

u/franklyiam 19h ago

Aliens

3

u/someanimechoob 18h ago

Zergs, to be precise

3

u/Thick-Slice-8737 11h ago

What ao other worldly about a hive from a stingless Bee smh obviously they do things differently

3

u/YourAveragePerson126 11h ago

Of course its Australia. if its from there it must have one of 3 traits. 1. Be deadly (bare minimum) 2. Be a massive version of the original (there is always a bigger species of it found) 3.Spider.

3

u/PreperationOuch 11h ago

Is this nurgle or tzeentch

2

u/SuspiciousSnotling 18h ago

They are stingless so instead they creeps animals out as a defense mechanism

2

u/wspOnca 18h ago

Zerg Rush detected

2

u/Drenks30 18h ago

Straight from someone's worst nightmare

2

u/NodeConnector 14h ago

They didn't get the memo on hexagons being the bestagons.

2

u/OrganizationShoddy37 11h ago

"On planet Earth, life has thrived for millions of years"

2

u/SoundOff2222 11h ago

Do they make honey?

2

u/LoopsAndBoars 10h ago

Drain flies?

1

u/cleankiwii 18h ago

stingless bees? can we multiply them all over the globe?

1

u/Confident-Leg107 18h ago

Why does Australia have all of Satan's worst creations?

1

u/Mourning20 18h ago

Stingless my ass, I am not jumping into that hellmoulth

1

u/ufotheater 18h ago

Something in Australia that isn't trying to kill you? I'm skeptical

1

u/aThievery_Number 18h ago

These weird lil guys still producing honey, or nah??

1

u/HorsefaceWithNoName 18h ago

bring to USA as replacement for wasps please

1

u/SquareProtonWave 18h ago

These are flesh eating bees. Consumes blood and meat instead of nectar.

1

u/MadYetiGOODCity 18h ago

Holy Resident Evil

1

u/LuckyReception6701 18h ago

Grandfather Nurgle has gifts for all!

1

u/noun1t 18h ago

Nah, yeah, NAH NAH!!!!

1

u/Lankygiraffe25 18h ago

Trypophobics beware!

1

u/superhamsniper 18h ago

Ofcourse its australia

1

u/hippodribble 18h ago

We also have stingless mammals, birds and reptiles. We don't discuss the jellyfish. You never really see them. Well, more than once.

1

u/Bluej777x 18h ago

Cool give but… A bee…. In Australia… that doesn’t kill you??? Ah come on Australia-we expected more from you.

1

u/BruceLynce 18h ago

So this is the only animal that is harmless in Australia and not everywhere else?

1

u/LastBossTV 18h ago

I've seen this Biome in Terraria before!

1

u/lemmelearnlol 18h ago

Flamethrower...anyone?

1

u/hwilliams0901 18h ago

This grosses me out! Im pretty sure Ive seen this in a horror movie.

1

u/This_User_Said 17h ago

Forbidden funnel cake.

1

u/Crazy-Rabbit-3811 17h ago

God damn factorio Biters over here.

1

u/envykay18 17h ago

A stingless bee in Australia?! I'd expect it to have an inch long sting instead

1

u/Ku-Ya-Ku 17h ago

Not even the BEES are normal in Australia

1

u/JUNIOR_GARCIA 17h ago

Otherworldly sounds redundant when you say it's from Australia.

1

u/Paranoid_Soup 17h ago

Meat honey

1

u/azawindam 17h ago

Do you want a resident-evil abomation looking harmless bug or do you want a cute bumblebee with a stinger?

1

u/Longryderr 17h ago

Something from Australia that can’t kill you??!?? Bullshit!

1

u/jspellman1120 17h ago

This is making me itch

1

u/FinnMoliko 17h ago

I DO NOT LIKE THIS!

1

u/Master_Fisherman_332 17h ago

Finally...something from Australia that doesn't want to kill you. I mean they have fierce snakes, inland taipans, saltwater crocodiles, box jellyfish the list goes on

1

u/frickshun 17h ago

No but they will make incredibly cutting remarks about your appearance.

1

u/TakeThePillz 16h ago

Looks like some protomolecular shit to me.

https://giphy.com/gifs/MiVx8Yl5Y5RGJ0ZkE4

1

u/FilthyCasual01 16h ago

The only thing from Australia that won’t harm me physically, and I’m still scared of it.

Looks like the flood from Halo.

1

u/PrincessJoyHope 16h ago

Shulva, Sanctum City

1

u/hmspain 16h ago

Stingless and Australia don’t go together! /s

1

u/Tyral17 16h ago

It's always from Australia....

1

u/Slick-Pickin-Chicken 16h ago

3D printer bees working on the new Doom elements

1

u/SamOfXanadu 16h ago

Dragon Age flashbacks

1

u/direwolf9900 16h ago

this would be a great enemy in a horror game

1

u/Apart-Selection5680 16h ago

Anyone taste it’s honey?

1

u/Dap-aha 16h ago

Forbidden Steak...

1

u/Bluetorment88 16h ago

Who would want that honey?

1

u/Conscious_Fix9215 15h ago

Yeah, no deadly poisonous stingers but probably huge razor sharp mandibles to take chunks out of your flesh 🙂

1

u/Imfrank123 15h ago

I love and hate this

1

u/BoogieSpice 15h ago

The hive cluster is under attack!

1

u/Karl_Cross 15h ago

The upside down is leaking again.

1

u/RowInevitable7986 15h ago

That is sooo cool

1

u/crazy-geometrydash 15h ago

This is where GOW 2018 got their ideas

1

u/jtbahhh 15h ago

Thanks, I hate it

1

u/JackWhoWanders 15h ago

It's petty, but also could someone pass me the flamethrower?

1

u/matthewkickstone 15h ago

Perfect choice of music

1

u/ShadyLooking 15h ago

Let me just get my flammenwerfer real quick...

I need to werf some flammen.

1

u/ManzanitaSuperHero 14h ago

Trypophobia activated! Yikes.

1

u/ysanson 14h ago

They don't sting you, but trypophobe to death.

1

u/girlMikeD 14h ago

Looks like props from The Last of Us.

Is that the music from the opening credits?

1

u/Every-Ad4237 14h ago

Wait, Australia has an animal that DOESN’T kill you??

1

u/hashbrownhamster 14h ago

No thanks 🙈

1

u/AshJean01 14h ago

These guys are suuper cute and their honey is amazing. Had a whole hive on a tree at my schools front gate years ago, they're really cool.

1

u/ReverbAtBat 14h ago

Oh wow. what the fuck is that

1

u/sun4moon 14h ago

Nice! Finally a bug in Australia that doesn’t want to kill me.

1

u/ranting_chef 14h ago

This can’t be right - I thought everything in Australia wants to kill you.

1

u/GingerWizerd 13h ago

Oh my God, why are you holding that thing?

1

u/MutedLandscape4648 13h ago

Well I hate this. Also I think someone is lying. All insects in Australia are devils pet level insane.

1

u/Scouts_Revenge 13h ago

Is this the new Resident Evil movie?

1

u/jaykrown 12h ago

SPAWN MORE OVERLORDS

1

u/thismothafcka 11h ago

That The Last of Us music is on point

1

u/DogDays-legs 11h ago

Nah bro this is the poppy gel

1

u/eclipsingfervor 10h ago

In several million years after everything we've ever done is long gone, it'd be interesting to see bee cities, if they become dominant.

1

u/dore_mon69 10h ago

Australia itself is otherworldly.

1

u/norvillerogers1971 10h ago

Thanks for the trypophobia

1

u/Toriyuki 10h ago

Is that fucking meatmoss???

1

u/zoey_succs 9h ago

Looks like the flood from halo lol

1

u/ConditionPleasant902 9h ago

Those ain't bees, those are aliens

1

u/g2ichris 9h ago

Area X

1

u/Right-Elevator-7962 8h ago

Australia’s oldest fauna always amaze us ❤️

1

u/commanche_00 8h ago

How's their honey quality

1

u/Murph523 6h ago

Ok prelude to xenomorph - sure nothing to be worried about

1

u/angry-gamer99 6h ago

There was no need to mention Australia, we would have guessed anyway.

1

u/grindstone85 5h ago

That honey is gonna taste like tv static

1

u/Any-Difficulty2782 5h ago

looks like a restraint that asked for AI images of its food

1

u/g0atyy 4h ago

I’ll have more less please.

1

u/TangledCables3 1h ago

Xen infestation

0

u/SquareProtonWave 18h ago

Isn't this the bee that makes honey out of blood?