Beekeepers Jacqueline Freeman, Sara Mapelli In 'Queen of the Sun'

America lost about a third of its managed honeybee colonies from October 2009 to April 2010. The little-understood event is called colony collapse disorder.

In 2010 Vancouver resident Jon Betz, associated with the Portland nonprofit film production and distribution company Collective Eye Inc. produced ‘Queen of the Sun.’ Among the beekeepers featured were Jacqueline Freeman and Sara Mapelli.

In this opening highlight from the film Mapelli used a queen-bee pheromone to attract 12,000 honey bees, the second time she’s done a honeybee dance. The artist admits to being stung six times while covered in bees to film ‘Queen of the Sun’, although she wasn’t stung at all in her first dance.

Mapelli describes dancing with bees as “magical.”

“It’s a duet,” she said. “We’re working together. It’s a really amazing, meditative experience.” Learn more about Queen of the Sun project on their website. information viaThe Columbian

Related: Anne is reading …  New articles on honey bees

Are Pesticides Behind Massive Bee Collapse?Discovery 1-11-12

Einstein was right - honey bee collapse threatens global food securityThe Telegraph 2-6-12

Collapsing Honey Bee Colonies: Blame The Parasites?NPR 1-7-12

Honeybee problem nearing a ‘critical point’ The Guardian 1-13-12