Bees

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their role in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently considered as a clade Anthophila. There are nearly 20,000 known species of bees in seven recognized biological families. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, in every habitat on the planet that contains insect-pollinated flowering plants.

Characteristics

Bees are adapted for feeding on nectar and pollen, the former primarily as an energy source and the latter primarily for protein and other nutrients. Most pollen is used as food for larvae. Bees have a long proboscis (a complex "tongue") that enables them to obtain the nectar from flowers. They have antennae composed of 13 segments in males and 12 in females, as is typical for the superfamily. Bees all have two pairs of wings, the hind pair being the smaller of the two; in a very few species, one sex or caste has relatively short wings that make flight difficult or impossible, but none are wingless.

Behavior

The most well-known behavior of bees is their pollination, which is a vital ecological and agricultural role. Bees are capable of buzz pollination, a technique used by some plants such as tomatoes and blueberries. Many species are best known for living in social colonies. Social structure varies significantly, with two main types of social behavior: eusociality, found in honey bees, and solitary behavior, found in many other species.

Social Structure

Eusocial bees, such as the honey bee (Apis mellifera), have a structured social order. These colonies are divided into three types: queens, workers, and drones. Queens are the only females in the colony capable of reproduction. Workers, which are non-reproductive females, perform all the other tasks needed to maintain and protect the colony. Drones are male bees, and their primary role is to mate with a new queen.

Conservation

Bees are threatened by habitat loss, disease, pesticide use, and climate change. Conservation efforts are critical to maintain bee populations as they play a vital role in pollination, which is crucial for the survival of many plant species and, by extension, the stability of ecosystems and agriculture.

Economic Importance

Bees are of significant economic importance, pollinating crops worldwide. It is estimated that one-third of the human food supply depends on insect pollination, most of which is accomplished by bees. Their decline would not only affect natural ecosystems but also agriculture and food production.

See Also

• Pollinator decline
• Colony Collapse Disorder
• Beekeeping
• Honey production