Our bees are a very special type of animal, as they have been living in communities with precisely defined roles for at least 50 million years on Earth. Such a community can only thrive if its members – the queen, the female worker bees, the male drones, the comb structure, and the bee housing (hives or baskets) – all come together to form a functioning whole. The beekeeper is also a very important part of this community, as he lives in harmony with the bee colonies and helps them survive in our modern environment through his love and care. We call such a community the bee. An active bee star protects itself like a rampart or city wall, as well as the other economic colonies within its range that are not located on the star points.