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. Check out the full talk embedded below and read the full National Geographic article, Quest for a Superbee, here.