There's a whole raft of things that are technically edible, that I want nowhere near my mouth. Add this to the list.
this post was submitted on 17 Mar 2026
665 points (98.8% liked)
Science Memes
19566 readers
2243 users here now
Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!
A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
Rules
- Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
- Keep it rooted (on topic).
- No spam.
- Infographics welcome, get schooled.
This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.
Research Committee
Other Mander Communities
Science and Research
Biology and Life Sciences
- !abiogenesis@mander.xyz
- !animal-behavior@mander.xyz
- !anthropology@mander.xyz
- !arachnology@mander.xyz
- !balconygardening@slrpnk.net
- !biodiversity@mander.xyz
- !biology@mander.xyz
- !biophysics@mander.xyz
- !botany@mander.xyz
- !ecology@mander.xyz
- !entomology@mander.xyz
- !fermentation@mander.xyz
- !herpetology@mander.xyz
- !houseplants@mander.xyz
- !medicine@mander.xyz
- !microscopy@mander.xyz
- !mycology@mander.xyz
- !nudibranchs@mander.xyz
- !nutrition@mander.xyz
- !palaeoecology@mander.xyz
- !palaeontology@mander.xyz
- !photosynthesis@mander.xyz
- !plantid@mander.xyz
- !plants@mander.xyz
- !reptiles and amphibians@mander.xyz
Physical Sciences
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !chemistry@mander.xyz
- !earthscience@mander.xyz
- !geography@mander.xyz
- !geospatial@mander.xyz
- !nuclear@mander.xyz
- !physics@mander.xyz
- !quantum-computing@mander.xyz
- !spectroscopy@mander.xyz
Humanities and Social Sciences
Practical and Applied Sciences
- !exercise-and sports-science@mander.xyz
- !gardening@mander.xyz
- !self sufficiency@mander.xyz
- !soilscience@slrpnk.net
- !terrariums@mander.xyz
- !timelapse@mander.xyz
Memes
Miscellaneous
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
Weavess eye vibes.
I would not want the honey from Resident Evil anywhere near my breakfast.
Using their extra-toothed mandible, they will slice and chew the flesh off, coating the meat in their acid-rich saliva before consumption. The bee will transport the chewed carrion back to the colony where it’s regurgitated into wax pots, different from the honey pots.
Here, the meat will be mixed with honey and left to mature over a period of 14 days. During this curing time, it will become a paste-like substance that is rich in free amino acids and sugars. This paste is fed to their young, who need it to grow.
So basically a potted meat but with sugar instead of fat. Apparently they also keep normal honey that's separate from the meat honey. Bees are so fucking cool.
As vulture bee honey is derived from animal flesh, it is not suitable for vegetarians.
Phew that's good to know! Nearly gourged myself on some corpse honey
Honey produced by vulture bees is a pleasant tasting and sweet smelling honey-like liquid.
It's strange that it doesn't taste like rotten flesh.
I read it tastes a bit more like cheese/butter.
Thank you, this comment made me feel unwell
load more comments
(2 replies)
"meat honey"
The vulture bee is sometimes said to produce a so-called "meat honey", but this is a misnomer resulting from scientific uncertainty, due to historic confusion of multiple species, each with a slightly different method of processing.
In one detailed study of Trigona hypogea in Brazil, the vulture bees mixed sugary plant products with a proteinaceous paste from regurgitated meat, and let it mature to form a sweet substance that was used as food; however, the two resources were initially kept in separate "pots" in the colony, neither being true honey (i.e., not derived from nectar), but they were then mixed together.
In a different study of Trigona necrophaga in Panama, the bees gathered nectar and produced honey, and they also produced a glandular secretion, derived from carrion, partially metabolized, used as a protein source, and kept completely separate from the honey. In neither case were the bees mixing meat-based substances with floral-derived substances.
Vulture bees usually enter the carcass through the eyes. They will then root around inside gathering the meat suitable for their needs.
There needs to be metal band called Vulture Bees, this is too metal.
Not exactly what you meant, but the first thing that came to mind
https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Earth/The_Bees_Made_Honey_in_the_Lion's_Skull/178274
On bed of mottled rocks
Amid flowers cold as ice
Pray the weak, the old, the poor
And when the tiny one from Heaven comes
Crawls inside the chosen skull
And when the tiny one it summons the others
To crawl inside the chosen skull
They build their castles in the heads of kings
Bring life to the empty halls
They build their castles in the heads of kings
And honey will flow once more
Once more
load more comments
(2 replies)
In one detailed study of Trigona hypogea in Brazil, the vulture bees mixed sugary plant products with a proteinaceous paste from regurgitated meat, and let it mature to form a sweet substance that was used as food; however, the two resources were initially kept in separate "pots" in the colony, neither being true honey (i.e., not derived from nectar), but they were then mixed together.
So it's not incorporated in the honey. They have a separate protein stache.
load more comments
(1 replies)
load more comments
(7 replies)
This one probably needs a NSFW filter, for "I was eating" reasons 😅
NSFE
Nature does depravity.
Humans: "Is it edible?"
People learning about mushrooms: This one tastes like beef, this one killed bob instantly, and that one made me see god for 2 weeks
Have you ever thought about blue cheese？
"Let's try drinking the milk from an animal"
"Oh, it's kinda gross and solid ish now. Still tastes good though"
"Oh wait, it's gone really mouldy. Let's slap it on some chicken wings"
Animal cheese connoisseurs be like: Our food culture grew by one diarrhoea at a time.
While I would agree on the surface, it's not really depravity. We've got to do away with rotting meat somehow. Hence why vultures are so important.
Still upvoted though.
load more comments
(1 replies)
load more comments
(1 replies)
So, basically: Rotting flesh-eating zombie bees produce honey which few outside of a certain cultural milieu will ever find appetizing or acceptable? 😃
That hive looks like I'm not high enough level to fight whatever is in there.
IRL Zerg home base
We require more Vespene gas
a smoky, salty, and savory taste rather than being sweet https://beezzit.com/blogs/news/meat-honey-the-strange-secret-of-vulture-bees
load more comments
(1 replies)
No thanks, I'm good.
No good, I'm thanks, dad
What
From the entomologic side: this is so interesting, thanks for sharing.
From the Mothership RPG DM side: this is so useful, thanks for sharing.
I hate you for posting this. Absolutely disgusting
Well, I know what my players are facing next time they venture into the Underdark...
Are they facing the person who decided to test the edibility of the corpse nest?
Now that you mention it, hell yes they are!
No
They are also stingless, how interesting.
Corpses don't usually fight back...
hard pass
So busy with "could" didn't worry with "should"
So, we can kill the flowers then?
Alright. I would. Gimme the goo.
Or would I contract a prion from it?
load more comments
(1 replies)
Ok, as I understood it, there is "edible honey" that is really plant-based, and "carrion meat-based protein storage" that kind of works like pollen storage in honeybees nest. TBH, I find pollen more nutritional and tasty than honey. And I know that honey bees are opportunistic carnivores too. These things kind of come together in a story better left untold.
load more comments
(10 replies)
view more: next ›