WILDLIFE DISCOVERY:Buzzing bees

Bees are flying insects; they feed on nectar (an energy source) and pollen (protein and other nutrients source). Pollen is used as food for larvae. Bees have long proboscis (tongue) which help them in get nectar from flowers. They have antennae on their head, made up of 13 segments in male bees and 12 segments in female bees. They have two pairs of wings, 6 legs and 2 eyes. Mainly the body is divided into three parts; head, thorax and abdomen. Facts about Bees Their predators are kingbirds, mockingbirds, bee wolves, and dragonflies. They are major pollinators; they play an important role in transferring pollen from the anther to the stigma of a plant, thus helping in the reproduction of plants. Bees may be solitary or may live in various types of communities. The bees who live in group are eusocial (good social). The group comprises of mother and daughter bees. The mother is considered the “Queen” and the daughters as “workers”. At certain stage male bees are also considered as group member, male bees are known as drones that mate with queen. Solitary bees constructs nest herself. Eusocial bees provide honey, wax and pollinate but solitary bees are only pollinators. Queen lays about 3000 eggs in a day, fertilized eggs will become female offspring, while unfertilized eggs will become males. A honey bee hive can contain up to 40,000 bees. Bees flap their wings 230 times per second and their flight speed averages only 15 miles per hour. It can fly for up to six miles. It takes about 556 workers to gather 1 pound of honey from about 2 million flowers. Ends