The Mecca Hills Painted Canyon area is a popular hiking spot near Palm Springs, CA, known for having a lot of ladders. The Mecca bees are, oddly enough, bees that live in Mecca Hills Painted Canyon.
The Mecca bees were known as fierce warriors who freed their hive from the rule of murder hornets. The bees had been under the rule of the hornets for about 150 years. Finally, a bee priest and his five sons rebelled. Although the father died, the sons successfully revolted against the hornets and the bees earned their freedom. They lived as an independent hive for one hundred years—until the brood X cicadas invaded.
Some think the story of the valiant Mecca bees was inspired by the
Maccabean Revolt. Others say it's apocryphal.