Unless you are a nature or animal lover, it’s hard to imagine somebody falling in love with insects let alone bees. Known to sting, bees aren’t a favourite for most people, and that is what makes it difficult to imagine them anywhere around us. While the honeycomb looks beautiful from afar, going to closer to them is not on many people’s to-do lists but that stems from not know enough about them. 

Misconceptions about bees 
Indian bee conservationist Amit Godse, also known as ‘Bee Man’, says there are several misconceptions that people have about bees, and that often makes it difficult for them to enjoy their true beauty. He explains, “The biggest myth is that all bees sting and are dangerous. Most bees, including stingless and solitary species, are harmless. Another misconception is associating bees only with honey, whereas their most important role is pollination supporting nearly 70 per cent of our food crops.” 

It's not only these but also the fact that people often assume bees are pests, but in truth, they are vital pollinators that support biodiversity and agriculture, adds Godse, who is an engineer-turned-conservationist. The fact that there is also limited awareness that different bee species exist, explains the city-based conservationist, makes many people not realise that stingless bees are different from common honeybees and produce medicinal honey with unique health benefits. 

Mindspace REIT’s has introduced stingless bees in their corporate park in Airoli, with an aim to conserve endangered indigenous species after consulting Godse. 
At the same time, they are hoping to not only educate their employees about bees but make also make them fall in love with them or at least increase the odds of it happening. Having been around them for some time now, Rajesh Sundararajan, who works in the office space reveals, "As someone deeply fascinated by bees, having stingless hives within our campus is truly special. Walking around the green areas where the hives are kept feels calming and connects us with nature, even during a busy workday. The initiative has made our workplace more vibrant and refreshing, while also reminding us that small actions can help the environment in meaningful ways."