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Beauty on a Small Scale
Like most other insects, bees are often overlooked and misunderstood. When viewed up close, these small creatures are really quite beautiful. While we tend to lump all bees together, they are an incredibly diverse group of insects and are found in a variety of sizes and colors. They also display a myriad of different behaviors, all of which are fascinating. Closely related to ants and wasps, bees are active fliers that have an exceptional fondness for flowers. With each intentioned visit, they help to ensure a healthy and productive world for all of us.
What’s All the Buzz About?
Nearly 80 percent of all flowering plants on Earth rely on animals for pollination, with insects doing most of the heavy lifting. Bees, butterflies, beetles, and other insects move pollen from one blossom to another, enabling flowering plants to produce seeds and fruit. This essential ecosystem service provides us with food, fiber, and medicine, and helps power our economy.
Bees are particularly industrious pollinators. With almost boundless energy, they meticulously scour the landscape in search of flowers, often traveling several miles in their pursuit. Most actively collect pollen and nectar with each flower visit. These vital floral resources serve as the primary food for both adult bees and their young.
Social or Solitary?
It’s a common misconception that all bees live in colonies. In fact, the highly organized social communities formed by honeybees are an exception, not the rule. While bumblebees and some sweat bees do form small seasonal colonies, the vast majority of native bees worldwide are solitary. As these bees do not have a colony to defend, they are typically non-aggressive or may lack the ability to sting altogether.
Honeybees, of course, are famous for their large colonies, which may comprise tens of thousands of individual bees and which may persist for several years. These are akin to large cities. The bees in such colonies perform complex tasks, have a clear division of labor, and cooperate in food gathering, offspring care, and nest maintenance.
