The most valuable insects of Russia

In our country, special attention is paid to environmental protection. One of the common types of environmental activities is the creation of specially protected natural areas. Today in Russia there are more than 100 reserves. They are created to protect rare species of mammals and birds, to protect natural complexes of particular value. But there is a unique reserve among them, which was created to protect the insect. This is the Shulgan-Tash State Nature Reserve, located in Bashkiria. Its main task is the protection of the Burzyansk bee bee, as well as the preservation of the Bashkir folk craft - beekeeping. This is the only reserve in the world in which the native population of wild forest honey bees is protected. The Burzyan bee bee is highly pure-blooded due to the long isolation of the population. This breed of bees is perfectly suited for living in the conditions of the Southern Urals. A Burzyan bee can tolerate winter frosts to minus 40-50 degrees, and also has the ability to collect large quantities of honey in a short summer.

On an area of 22.5 hectares, there are more than 350 bee families. Some of them live in artificial hollows: boards and decks. Breeding wild bees on special sides (small hollows that are hollowed out on trees) is a traditional craft of the local population. Bashkir honey is famous far beyond the region. According to historians, flight-control was born on the territory of Bashkiria around the VI century AD. The heyday of this industry falls on the XVIII century. Initially, the Bashkirs bred bees only on the sides, later they mastered growing in decks - special hollows that were installed on the ground or hung on a tree trunk. Trees with sides and decks were considered the property of the beekeeper, and each family marked them with special signs.

The main objective of the reserve is the breeding of bees and the protection of the gene pool of the Burzyansky forest bee. To protect against hybridization, a ban was also imposed on the import of other bee breeds into this region. The relative isolation of this breed is ensured by the natural position of the range between the two Ural-Tau and Alatau ridges, as well as by the low population of these places.

Of course, in this peculiar bee reserve there are many wild animals that are subject to protection and study along with bees. On the territory of the conservation zone there is a unique karst kapova cave, as well as a deep-sea karst lake, which is popular with divers. Educational activities are carried out in the reserve; it annually receives thousands of tourists. Therefore, once in Bashkiria in the summer, do not miss the opportunity to visit this protected corner of nature.