Bees are one of the most well-known insects, but how much do you actually know about them?
Keep reading to learn all the buzz about bees!
So, what exactly is a bee?
As an insect, bees have a very specific body composition. They are composed of three parts: a head with two antennae, a thorax with six legs, and an abdomen. Bees also have two pairs of wings that aid in flight, as well as hair, to help in pollination. Stingers are known to be the most noteworthy part of a bee, but did you know not every bee has one? Only female bees have stingers which are part of their reproductive system.
Although most bees are colored as black and yellow, there are a few which are green, blue, red, or fully black depending on the species. In fact, there are over 20,000 known bee species around the world!
Some can appear striped or look metallic. They can range in size from two millimeters to 4 centimeters (0.08 inches to 1.6 inches).
Why are bees important?
Bees are important because they are pollinators. They aid in moving pollen between flowers in order to produce fruit or seeds. When bees are hunting for nectar or pollen to eat, some pollen can get stuck in their hair. As the bees fly around, they deposit the pollen to other plants and helps in fertilization, which results in plant reproduction. Without bees, many plants would not be able to reproduce. In fact, many fruits and vegetables were made with the help of bees!
Bees, more specifically, honey bees, also produce honey. They are one of few social bee species, meaning they live in a colony with a queen bee, worker bees, and “drones” . The main purpose of these colonies is to make and store honey. Honey is an important food source for these bees, as it provides lots of energy for flight, colony maintenance, and daily jobs.
Each has their own jobs to keep the colony alive:
The Queen: The queen bee has the important role of laying eggs to create the next generation of bees. Depending on how much food she is fed, the queen bee can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day!
The Worker: The worker bees are sterile female bees that work on building the hive’s honeycomb, caring for young bees (larvae), feeding the queen, and gathering food. Honeycombs are made to protect the young, and also store pollen or honey for feeding. There are thousands of worker bees per colony, with some having as many as 60,000!
The Drone: The male bees that hatch in the hive are only used for breeding. Once they reach maturity, they fly away from the hive in search of a queen to mate with. Unfortunately, once a male bee mates with a queen, the bee will die.
Contrary to popular belief, most bees are not social bees. They are solitary and build individual nests to lay their eggs. Unlike Honeybees, they do not produce honey but rely on a mixture of pollen and nectar to feed their young. Independent bees rarely sting either, as there is no hive to protect, nor are there any available “back-up” bees to help them defend. Bees that hatch from these nests are often left to fend for themselves, as there is no community hive to help them grow.
Bee Conservation
Some bee species are in decline and are becoming endangered. This is caused by a number of factors, such as pesticide use, farming practices, habitat destruction, and climate change. Bees are an important part of the survival of plants, wild animals, and even humans. Ultimately, by taking care of bees, we can ensure the health of the planet.
Some ways you could help your local bee population include:
Planting a bee garden using local native flowers and trees
Avoid using chemicals on your gardens and lawns
Buy and support local beekeepers
Thanks for reading!
Written by Kaylee Barrera
Sources:
“Bee Information for Kids: Bumblebee & Honey Bee Facts.” Pest World for Kids, www.pestworldforkids.org/pest-guide/bees. Accessed 22 June 2021.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “Bee.” San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants, animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/bee. Accessed 22 June 2021.
The National Wildlife Federation. “Bees.” National Wildlife Federation, www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Bees. Accessed 22 June 2021.
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