An Irish designer is growing unique mushroom hives (蜂箱) in order to protect her island’s local black bees. For years, Ireland imported a large group of bees from places with tropical climates and warmer weather. Bees find it challenging to survive in Irish climate but other generic factors like loss of habitat and increase in the usage of pesticides have also led to a decline in the bee population. Further, the imported new species mated (交配) with local bees to produce their young that stormed the hives of the black bees and still could not get adjusted to the weather.
Econooc is a type of hive designed by Niamh Damery, an Irish designer, to save Ireland’s native black bees. This hive is among the world’s finest 20 and has been considered for the James Dyson Design Award for Sustainability. The designer not only aims to protect the bees but also intends to have people participate in its conservation.
The mushroom hives are cultivated from mycelium pores (由菌丝孔培育而成) with by-products like straw or wood shavings used as substrate (底座). Mycelium, situated underground, provides support to the fruiting body. These mushrooms are coming out as a probable design tool. GNN reported that mushrooms could be used to build things like canoes, bricks, and coffins. To create the beehive, mycelium and the substrate concoction (混合物) is stuffed into a mold (模具) in the shape of the actual hive. It is then heated in the oven to secure the shape.
Econooc copies a hive and is placed in the hollow of a local tree. This is the natural habitat of the black Irish bees, where they build their shelter, store food and protect their young ones. Recycled plastic is used to make a landing pad so that owners can watch the activities of the bees. The hive is secured on the tree with the help of old car seatbelts to fasten it. Every aspect of the project is based on sustainability.
【小题1】What does the author think of the years’ introduction of the new species of bee?| A．Increasing the bee population. | B．Making things even worse. |
| C．Improving the local black bees. | D．Reproducing a better species. |
| A．Its production way. | B．Its shape. |
| C．Its materials. | D．Its functions. |
| A．Environmentally friendly. | B．Extremely economical. |
| C．Absolutely creative. | D．Comparatively efficient. |
| A．A New Species of Bee Fails to Save Irish Bees |
| B．A Bee Hive Recognized for Its Sustainability |
| C．Mushrooms Make Good Materials for Beehives |
| D．Homegrown Mushrooms Give Life to Ireland’s Bees |
