The weather is getting colder and the bees on campus are looking for a warm place to settle down for the winter, and it just so happens that the library is their home of choice.
Over the past two weeks, the temperatures in Madison have dropped near freezing in the midst of the night. The colder weather presents a unique challenge as the creatures of The Forest seek warm places to settle in for the winter.
The Pilling Room is currently closed to students as Facilities works to combat “a small honeybee infiltration.” Since bees moved into the walls of the room, academic support services in the Pilling Room have subsequently been moved for student and staff safety.
The University Writing Center, which typically operates out of the Pilling Room, is temporarily sharing space with the Center for Academic Excellence. Students can also use the Cornell Room as an alternative space.
The bee issue is expected to take at least two more weeks to resolve, and students should not enter the room until this time.
This “invasion” is not the first instance of bees invading the walls of buildings on campus. The department houses and various residence halls have witnessed a fair bit of buzz concerning the insect visitors. English faculty members have reported bees taking up residence in Sitterly in the past. Just last week at a meeting in the Global Ed office in Davies’ house, a student was warned of the bees which have posed a slight issue in the small space. Currently, a hive is active outside the windows of Asbury.
A singular bee, large and black in color, is causing issues in several classes in Seminary Hall. Students reported this bee causing chaos in the classroom, though it has not done any harm. The bee disrupted classes, flying around the classroom and occasionally landing on students. Since windows have closed for the season, the bee issue has ceased to be a regular concern.
Though unconfirmed, this bee resembles a carpenter bee in appearance and in its solitary behavior. Carpenter bees are generally not aggressive and will most likely not sting.
Obviously, the presence of bees is dangerous to students with severe allergies. Issues with bees in indoor spaces such as department houses and residence halls can be reported to the office of facilities. It is important that students contact professionals instead of attempting to manage the issues on their own.
While it is important to protect pollinators such as bees, it is also worth noting that honeybees are a domesticated species and can severely disrupt local ecosystems. Sharing space with the insects can pose a threat to both humans and the bugs, so their quick removal is almost always required.
Students can expect the bees to reign over the Pilling Room for at least two more weeks.
Katie Carmichael is a senior majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing.
Jocelyn Freeman is a senior double-majoring in history and English, with a minor in Chinese.
Featured image courtesy of Lapo Miles.
