SD Discovery Center to open new observation hive Saturday on World Bee Day

As part of World Bee Day tomorrow (May 20, 2023) from 2-3pm CT, the South Dakota Discovery Center in Pierre is unveiling the latest addition to its exhibit hall– a honey bee observation hive.

Executive Director Dr. Rhea Waldman says visitors will find out more about the honey bees and the impact of pollinators by watching the honey bees throughout their lifecycle from egg, to larva, pupa and finally adult. Every bee plays a part with the queen keeping the hive growing with her drones and worker bees creating beeswax to build honeycomb. She says as pollinators, these bees also play an important role in our local ecosystem, using area plants as they fly in and out of the hive through a tube.

This new display is in memory of Alissa Faith Lumpiez, the great-niece of Pierre residents, and Discovery Center members, Cathi and Jim Lester. She says Alissa loved nature and shared her observations of the world around her through drawings that she gave to family members. With our new Observation Hive, we hope to celebrate her life and encourage others to look at the world around them with wonder.

The SDDC is dedicated to empowering all Peoples of the Great Plains through hands-on experiences that inspire scientific thinking. Follow the SDDC on Facebook for day-to-day updates and highlights, and learn more about its mission, programs for all ages, professional development courses, and popular exhibit hall by visiting sd-discovery.org. Share your observations online with the hashtag #centerbees and don't forget to use iNaturalist to become a citizen scientist.