Bumbling Away

Amazing bumblebee facts: The buzzy little critters' brains work five time faster to process images than do people. They literally see quicker than we do, which is mighty useful for avoiding obstacles and fly swatters.

Worker bumblebees can find their way back to the nest from up to 5 miles away. These ladies don't get lost.

Cuckoo bumblebees closely resemble their chosen species. They invade a nest, kill the Queen and her larvae and lay their own eggs. The poor worker bees then raise the 'cuckoo's' offspring without knowing the difference.

That loud buzz is more important than stripey patterns for warning away birds. Faced with a split second decision whether to eat the buzzing critters, even a birdbrain learns discretion.

Ireland has 20 native species of bumblebees. Honeybees, by contrast, were imported to the island by humans.

Male bumblebees are produced by the Queen only before the annual mating period. Upon birth, the lads are shoved from the nest. In the words of one (female) researcher: "The guys don't do housework, they don't help raise the kids - and they have only half the genes."

Dublin hides a thriving natural habitat for birds, bees and other critters. Behind those impressive Georgian facades lie huge stretches of garden courtyards. The flowery oasis at Number 31 is particularly lovely and restful - a perfect spot to while away a drowsy summer hour to the buzz and drone of native bumblebees.