The beehive is a commonly used symbol dating at least to Roman times.
In medieval
heraldry it was considered a symbol of industry.
In modern times, it is used in
Freemasonry. In masonic lectures it is explained as a symbol of industry and co-operation[SUP],[/SUP][SUP][/SUP] and as cautioning against intellectual laziness, warning that "he that will so demean himself as not to be endeavoring to add to the common stock of knowledge and understanding, may be deemed a drone in the hive of nature, a useless member of society, and unworthy of our protection as Masons."[SUP][/SUP]
The beehive is also used with similar meaning by
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or
Mormons.
From Mormon usage it has become one of the
State symbols of Utah.
The beehive culture within the colony consists primarily of male drones which cater to one female queen bee.
Humans will at times determine that a beehive must be destroyed in the interest of public safety or in the interest of preventing the spread of bee diseases.
Black bears also destroy hives in their quest for honey.[SUP][/SUP] The U.S. state of
Florida destroyed the hives of
Africanized honey bees in 1999.[SUP][/SUP] The state of
Arkansas has issued regulations governing the treatment of diseased beehives via burning followed by burial,
fumigation using
ethylene oxide or other approved gases,
sterilization by treatment with
lye, or by scorching.
Beehive - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia