First 21 Days of a Bee’s Life in 60 Seconds

Photographer Anand Varma captured the incredible 21 day transformation from bee egg to larvae to pupae to adult, unveiling the breathtaking timelapse as part of a recent TED Talk. Varma raised bees in his backyard — in front of a camera — to get an up close view.

The project for National Geographic gives a glimpse into a bee hive — and reveals one of the biggest threats to its health, a mite that preys on baby bees in the first 21 days of life.