What is it with European bakeries and bees? I've seen memes and stuff about it, and this one youtuber, a Vietnamese woman who's German BF never shows his face, I can't remember her name right now. She showed a bakery in Germany with bees everywhere. Why is this a thing?

[–] gofsckyourself@lemmy.world 46 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

I'll never understand why people call wasps "bees". They are extremely different. It's like calling deer "horses". Why is this a thing?

[–] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 4 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Because I just glanced at the picture while hiding my phone from customers and thought they were bees

[–] A_Very_Big_Fan@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

I still think they look like bees. I've only ever known wasps to be black

[–] dbtng@eviltoast.org 15 points 1 day ago

Ya, that's an odd odd thing. I know people that live around actual bees, watching the commercial hives swarm in the fields during pollination. They really know what bees are. And then when a wasp shows up, they are like "Fukin BEES!!!" and break out with a can of poison.

[–] daggermoon@lemmy.world 0 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

A bee is a type of wasp, is it not? I think techniclly ants are wasps too.

[–] Sirence@feddit.org 5 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

A bee is not a type of wasp. They are both Hymenoptera, one of the 4 types of insects, but that would be the same as saying a dog is a type of human because both are Eutheria.

[–] TherapyGary@lemmy.blahaj.zone 41 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I think those are actually wasps. It's particularly common in countries like Germany and Luxembourg where native wasps are protected species. As for Poland and other parts of Europe, it's hard to keep them out when you keep the doors propped open in lieu of central AC (and they're attracted to the fresh sugar), and wasps and bees don't transmit disease anyway, so people just get used to them

[–] needanke@feddit.org 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Compared to (my impression of) north America I think there are some contributing factors:

Less sprawl: Bakeries are usually in a town/neighborhood (which has more nature compared to the US, therefore also more insects) and not surrounded by a huge parking lot where no wasps would live. There are also many neigbouhring properties with different owners/occupants. So their nest might nor be on your property or even somewhere where you'd be able to locate it.
(more) indipendent shops: I see waaaay less wasps in the baked good section in supermarkets here as well. Bakeries are usually not huge so it is just a short distance for the wasps to fly in a confinded space. Bakeries are also not usually airconditioned which would probably irritate wasps.
conservation laws: Wasps are considerd a protected species in Germany and catching, harming or killing them without a proper reason can carry a fine of up to 5-65k€ depending on the kind of wasp and the state. In general wasp nests can only be moved by professional and licenced exterminators (and they only do it when necessary, like the nest being near a kindergarten or in an occupied builduing).

[–] possumparty@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I think Europe and surrounding countries do a lot of shit right, but some things like protecting wasps and making melatonin prescription genuinely baffle me. What the fuck

[–] dbtng@eviltoast.org 1 points 16 hours ago

Fuk wasps.

[–] gleb@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago

those are wasps, unfortunately,

[–] Gladaed@feddit.org 7 points 1 day ago

Uyen Ninh

[–] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 7 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Wouldn't traps near the food be a bigger concern than wasps taking a bite? Idk I live in Germany so I might be desensitized. The way I see it wasp-free pastry is preferable but if they decide to help themselves then oh well. They don't soak the food in spit and they don't lay eggs on it, they just nibble.

[–] ComfortableRaspberry@feddit.org 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

When eating outside we sometimes set up an "Opferteller" with left overs and put out to the side so the wasps have their thing going on that plate and we can continue to eat. It's fascinating to watch but at the same time I'm scared shitless since I had a very bad experience with nest defending wasps and my long hair as a child...

[–] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I do the same thing and then I just move slowly as not to squish or slap them accidentaly. Works much better than shooing them 😄 Wasps have a bad reputation but they're useful and kinda cool honestly.

[–] dbtng@eviltoast.org 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Where I live, it is considered a community service to kill wasps. Seriously. Gotta die.

[–] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's straight up illegal here 😅

[–] dbtng@eviltoast.org 2 points 1 day ago

Fascinating. Its not that I have some obsession with killing wasps, but its something I do immediately. When I see nests, I eliminate them. I will tell the property owner, "You're welcome."

[–] dbtng@eviltoast.org 2 points 1 day ago

You're mad. Out of your mind. That's not uncommon on the internet. There are many of us.

[–] Sibshops@lemmy.myserv.one 3 points 2 days ago

I'm wondering the same thing.