There are several types of bees out there. The most common type is the honey bee, but there are others.
The honey bee is the best-known and most widely used because it’s so easy to keep in a hive. It has an amazing ability to communicate with other honey bees using pheromones. And they can carry pollen from flower to flower without being stung.
They have a very complex social structure that we don’t understand completely. But which is best, and what’s their work in our society? Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
Types of bees:
Squash Bees
Squash bees are solitary bee species that live in colonies and collect pollen and nectar from squash blossoms. They feed on pollen from zucchini, pumpkin, cucumber, melon, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, muskmelon, and many others. In addition to feeding on pollen, they consume small amounts of nectar.
These bees are very territorial, defending their nests against intruders. They nest inside hollowed-out stems and leaves of squash and pumpkins and lay eggs in springtime.
Once hatched, the young larvae spin cocoons around themselves and pupate into adult bees. After emerging from the pupae, adults will mate and search for food sources.
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Honey bees are one of the most commonly kept insect species in hobbyist beekeeping. They are found throughout much of the world. The honeybee is a member of the genus Apis, in the family Apidae, subfamily Apidae. They are usually called “honey bees” or “beehives,” although some people call them “bumblebees.”
Most honey bees are native to Eurasia and Africa but were introduced to Australia and New Zealand during the early 20th century. They are important agricultural pollinators, and their hives are often seen at farmers’ markets selling honey.
They are also popular pets due to their docile nature and ease of care. Honey bees are highly sociable insects, living in large colonies with multiple queens and thousands of workers. Each colony has a queen laying eggs and several thousand worker bees.
The queen lives for about two months before she dies, laying up to 1,000 eggs daily. If the queen stops laying, the colony becomes weak and eventually dies.
Mason Bees
There are about 140 mason bee species in North America. Some have dull black and white stripes, while others have yellow or red stripes. They are solitary nesters. They lay eggs in a series of small chambers built into rotting logs. These log nests are often found near streams or rivers where the insects can easily find water.
Most mason bees feed on pollen and nectar. However, some species specialize in feeding on sap from the roots of plants such as maple trees. Blue orchard mason bees are among apple, cherry, peach, pear, plum, and apricot tree pollinators.
Blueberry Bees
Blueberry bees are a stockier version of bumblebees. They are found throughout North America, especially in the southeastern states. These bees are solitary creatures that live alone in hives. Their bodies are brownish yellow, while their antennae are black.
The male bees make nests in trees, shrubs, and hollow logs. Nests are usually constructed near flowers where females lay eggs, and the males fertilize them. Afterward, the female takes over the nest and cares for her young.
In addition to being good pollinators, blueberry bees are also known to eat aphids and other pests. They do this by sucking up the insects with their long tongues.
Bumblebees
Bumblebees are common members of many bee families. Bumblebees are often confused with honeybees because they look similar. But there are differences between these two types of bees. One difference is that bumblebees have hairy abdomens, whereas honeybees don’t. Another difference is that bumblebee’s wings are longer than honeybees’.
Their name comes from the sound made when they fly. A bumblebee makes a buzzing sound as it flies around its habitat. This noise is very loud and annoying to humans.
Bumblebees are social animals. They live in groups called “colonies.” Each colony has a queen and several reproductive males and females. There may be anywhere from 10-50 individuals in a colony.
Like honeybees, bumblebees are excellent pollinators. They visit flowers of various sizes and shapes, including those that bloom only once yearly.
Alkali Bees
The alkali bee is one of many species of solitary bees living in dry regions worldwide. These bold, brightly colored insects use their long tongues to collect pollen and nectar from clover, grasses, and wildflowers.
Female alkali bees construct nests from mud and plant material to attract mates. They lay eggs inside the tunnel and guard it against predators. Male alkali bees do not help raise young; they mate with the female and move on.
Because of their bright colors, alkali bees are easy to spot. They are often mistaken for wasps or ants. Like other solitary bees, alkali bees have no stinger. Instead, they inject venom through their mouthparts. The sting paralyzes their prey. The bee then uses its tongue to remove the insect’s body fluids.
Alkali bees are native to the western United States. Because of their unique coloration, they are sometimes called desert bees.
Virescent Green Metallic Bee
The vireos are small songbirds native to North America. They live mostly in deciduous forests, but some species occur in open habitats such as prairies and deserts. Their name comes from the Latin “virus,” meaning beautiful.
A shiny green metallic head, thorax body, and banded abdomen make it stand out from other bees and wasps. Often called a sweat bee, this pollinator makes its nest in the ground.Meet8 beneficial insects you want to see in your garden.
So, which bee is best among those?
Honeybees are considered the best bee among all the species of bees. They are very important for food production, and also they are used in medicine.
The honeybee is a social insect, meaning it lives in colonies with other individuals of its species. The queen bee lays eggs (female), and after some time, she dies. Then, the worker bees take care of them and feed them with pollen and nectar. Worker bees have different tasks within the colony.
Some work in the nest, while others gather food outside the nest. Honeybees are also known as supersocial animals. It’s because they can communicate with each other using chemical signals.
Honeybees are good pollinators. They visit more than 400 kinds of flowering plants. They can easily find the most nutritious parts of a flower. Also, they can remember where they have visited before.
So if you want to grow your garden, you should choose a place where you can keep honeybees. You can buy several packages of hives and put them into your garden. But you can get a package of artificial nesting boxes if you don’t have enough space.
How can you attract bees to your garden?
Bees need a few things to thrive: water, food, and shelter.
Water: A bee needs about 50 microliters of water a day to survive. At the same time, bees can get water from nectar but need freshwater sources. Provide bees with a shallow dish of fresh water with pebbles or sticks so they can land and drink without drowning.
Food: Bees collect nectar and pollen from flowers to make honey. They also eat pollen for protein. When choosing plants for your bee garden, be sure to include a variety of flowers that bloom at different times throughout the year so the bees always have something to eat.
Shelter: Bees need a place to rest and protect themselves from the weather and predators. You can shelter them by planting native trees and shrubs or creating a bee hotel from an old log or hollowed-out wood block.
What are some things to avoid if you want to attract bees?
Pesticides are one of the biggest threats to bees. Many pesticides are highly toxic to bees and can kill them outright. Others may not be lethal but can still harm bees by disrupting their navigation, communication, and feeding habits.
Herbicides:
Herbicides can also harm bees if they come into contact with treated plants. Some herbicides can kill bees outright, while others may cause them to become disoriented or unable to feed properly.
Fungicides:
Fungicides are another type of pesticide that can be harmful to bees. Like other pesticides, fungicides can kill bees outright or disrupt their normal behavior.
Here are some common problems that beekeepers face:
1. Lack of forage: One of the biggest problems beekeepers face is a lack of forage for their bees. This can be due to several reasons, including habitat loss, monoculture crops, and pesticide use.
2. Pests and diseases: Pests and diseases are another big problem facing beekeepers. These can include Varroa mites, American foulbrood, European foulbrood, and nosema.
3. Weather: Weather can also be a big problem for beekeepers. Extreme weather conditions can kill bees or make it difficult for them to find food and water.
Solutions:
1. Plant native flowers and plants: One way to help solve the problem of lack of forage is to plant native flowers and plants in your garden or yard. This will provide food for bees and other pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.
2 Use organic methods: Another way to help bees is to use organic methods in your garden or yard such as composting, mulching, and using natural pest controls like ladybugs
What can you do to help bees?
Bees are attracted to flowers for their nectar and pollen. By planting various flowers, you can provide bees with the necessary resources to survive and thrive.
Avoid pesticides:
Pesticides can be harmful to bees if they come into contact with them. Avoid using pesticides in your garden or lawn to protect bees.
Provide water:
Bees need water to drink and to cool off on hot days. You can help bees by providing water in your garden or yard.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. Why Should Bees Be Used?
Beneficial insects are among the many biological controls that can be used for conservation to maintain insect populations in balance and manage pests.
2. How Many Solitary Bees Live?
More than 90% of these species of bee live solitary, rather than social, lives in which they construct and provision their nests without relying upon others.
3. What Are Bumble Bees?
Bumble bees are social insects that live in colonies. They have a queen and workers, who all help to raise the young. The workers do most of the work, while the queen is much larger than any worker bee. She lays eggs that develop into new queens. Workers can be identified by their black-and-yellow striped abdomens, with thin legs and long antennae.Â
4. What Is Buzz Pollination?
Buzz pollination is the process of bees and other insects collecting pollen from plants to feed their young. It’s a natural phenomenon that occurs all around us, but it can be difficult to see because it happens so quickly.
The bee or insect will fly through the air carrying pollen in its body until it lands on another flower. When this happens, the bee or insect will release the pollen onto the surface of the stigma (the part of the flower where pollen sticks).
Then, the bee or insect will leave. Suppose the bee or insect successfully transfers pollen the next time the flower opens. In that case, the pollen will stick to the stigma and fertilize the ovum inside the flower.
Conclusion
There are many types of bees around us that its very hard to keep track of. I have maintained those species which are very common and help our environment. I hope to give you enough idea about pollinators so that you can take steps to save them.
