[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Hide featured image – right click chevrons to expand and enable” _builder_version=”3.22″ disabled=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_post_title author=”off” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”Hide Featured Image – if enabled HIDE post title in post settings (top right)” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ title_all_caps=”off” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” parallax_effect=”on” module_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)”] [\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” min_height=”0px” custom_padding=”18px|||||” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.0.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
There was a kerfuffle on Twitter at the beginning of the year, regarding a tweet by an American journalist posted on 31st December 2019. The tweet was sardonic comment on an image of a number of Manchester Bee tattoos, pointing out that with one set of wings, the bees were, taxonomically speaking, flies. This statement was not well received, with many people pointing out the significance of the tattoos in relation to the Manchester Bombing<\/a>. They also asked the person to delete the tweet and apologise for insensitivity.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n As the original poster has deleted the tweet and apologised I won’t mention their name, but I did want to comment on it for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I’ve not seen this particular identification raised before. There\u2019s been past comments that some Manchester Bee designs more closely resemble wasps than bees, but never flies. Also, as specific information on this website regarding this topic is spread over a number of articles, so I wanted to draw it together in one place, answering the question of why does the Manchester Bee only have one set of wings.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.7″]<\/p>\n The Coat of Arms<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/manchesterbe.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/2592.jpg” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.0.7″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on”] [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.7″]<\/p>\n During the Industrial Revolution, Manchester was granted its coat of arms in 1842. The crest described thusly:<\/p>\n On a Wreath of the Colours a Terrestrial Globe semee of Bees volant all proper<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cSemee\u201d translates as sprinkled or strewn, \u201cvolant\u201d is french for flying and \u201call proper\u201d means with in flight with wings aspread. There\u2019s a couple of possible reasons why bees were chosen, but it\u2019s commonly thought it\u2019s because they represent industry, and their placement on a globe highlighted Manchester\u2019s global trading link. The number of bees isn\u2019t specified, but most depictions of the arms feature seven. \u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.7″]<\/p>\n As you can see above and from other examples<\/a>, the bees are almost always depicted with four wings, excepted on the smallest of designs. In nature, their front and rear wings hook together to form one big pair of wings, unhooking for easy folding when not flying. But the coat of arms isn\u2019t really the source of the Manchester Bee. There are many arms across Europe that feature bees, but none of those have taken on the same significance as they do in Manchester. For the Manchester Bee, we need to look to Manchester Town Hall.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.7″]<\/p>\n The Town Hall Bees<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/manchesterbe.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Manchester-Town-Hall-Bee-Mosaic-Floor.jpg” _builder_version=”4.0.7″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.7″]<\/p>\n