The wonderful world of bees!

So what is a bee?So what is a bee?

Honey bees are often mistaken for Honey bees are often mistaken for other insects.other insects.

Take a look at these flying insects Take a look at these flying insects that you might have seen and that you might have seen and thought was a honey bee.thought was a honey bee.

bumblebeebumblebee

Bumblebees are big hairy oval shaped bees that Bumblebees are big hairy oval shaped bees that are yellow and black. They have pollen baskets are yellow and black. They have pollen baskets on their legs to collect and carry pollen back to on their legs to collect and carry pollen back to their hives.their hives.

They normally build small nests in dry grass or They normally build small nests in dry grass or moss.moss.

Leafcutter beesLeafcutter bees

Leafcutter bees are grey and black and are a Leafcutter bees are grey and black and are a similar size to the honey bee.similar size to the honey bee.

They make their small nests in leaves and hollow They make their small nests in leaves and hollow trees.trees.

hoverflyhoverfly

Hoverflies look like bees, but are a type of fly. Hoverflies look like bees, but are a type of fly. They only have a single pair of wings. They only have a single pair of wings.

Hoverflies are yellow and black Hoverflies are yellow and black They cannot sting.They cannot sting. Hoverflies are excellent flyers and dart and dive Hoverflies are excellent flyers and dart and dive

all over the place.all over the place.

WaspsWasps

Wasps are not bees.Wasps are not bees. They do not collect pollen, instead they eat other They do not collect pollen, instead they eat other

insects and spiders.insects and spiders. Wasps make their nests in hollow trees, on the Wasps make their nests in hollow trees, on the

ground, or even in house roofs.ground, or even in house roofs. Their nests are made of paper or wood.Their nests are made of paper or wood.

And finally……..And finally…….. the honey bee! the honey bee!

Honey bees are brownish orange and black.Honey bees are brownish orange and black. They have pollen baskets on their legs to They have pollen baskets on their legs to

collect and carry pollen from flowers back collect and carry pollen from flowers back to their hives.to their hives.

Honey bees live in large groups. Inside Honey bees live in large groups. Inside their hives are lots of hexagon shaped cells their hives are lots of hexagon shaped cells to make honey.to make honey.

Honey bees very rarely sting for if they do Honey bees very rarely sting for if they do they die straight after.they die straight after.

Now some more facts about Now some more facts about honey bees…honey bees…

Queen beesQueen bees In a bee colony there is always a queen bee. She In a bee colony there is always a queen bee. She

is the boss!is the boss! The queen is a bit bigger than the other bees. The queen is a bit bigger than the other bees.

She does not have pollen baskets on her legs as She does not have pollen baskets on her legs as her only job is to lay eggs. Can you see the her only job is to lay eggs. Can you see the queen bee in the middle of this photo?queen bee in the middle of this photo?

The workersThe workers

Worker bees clean the hives and fly out to collect Worker bees clean the hives and fly out to collect nectar and pollen.nectar and pollen.

They have a long straw to suck up the nectar in They have a long straw to suck up the nectar in flowers. flowers.

Worker bees fly in and out of the hive all day and Worker bees fly in and out of the hive all day and then return for the night.then return for the night.

Have a look at the next photo and see if you can Have a look at the next photo and see if you can spot the proboscises (the straw)spot the proboscises (the straw)

Life cyclesLife cycles

Honey bees have a similar life cycle to many Honey bees have a similar life cycle to many other insects. other insects.

Stage 1Stage 1 – egg – egg

Stage 2Stage 2 – Larva (after 3 days the larva which is like – Larva (after 3 days the larva which is like a worm emerges from the egg.a worm emerges from the egg.

Stage 3Stage 3 – Pupa – on day 10 the larva stops eating – Pupa – on day 10 the larva stops eating and spins a cocoon around itselfand spins a cocoon around itself

Stage 4Stage 4 – Inside the cocoon a pupa develops and – Inside the cocoon a pupa develops and begins to look like a bee. When it is fully grown it begins to look like a bee. When it is fully grown it chews its way out.chews its way out.

Bee keepingBee keeping

People have kept bees for honey making for People have kept bees for honey making for thousands of years.thousands of years.

Bee keepers have to wear protective clothing so Bee keepers have to wear protective clothing so the bees don’t sting them.the bees don’t sting them.

And finally some last amazing bee And finally some last amazing bee facts ……….facts ……….

Honey bees do a little dance when they have Honey bees do a little dance when they have found flowers to tell the other bees where the found flowers to tell the other bees where the flowers are.flowers are.

Bees have 5 eyes, 6 legs and 4 wings. They do Bees have 5 eyes, 6 legs and 4 wings. They do not have any ears, nose, mouth or hands.not have any ears, nose, mouth or hands.

Bees cannot see the colour red.Bees cannot see the colour red. Bees love anything that is very sweet.Bees love anything that is very sweet. Bees make honey from the nectar they collect Bees make honey from the nectar they collect

from flowers. They make it back in their hive.from flowers. They make it back in their hive.