Bee Facts

Here are a few general bee facts
• There are about 25,000 known species of bee in the world – and there are probably more to be discovered.
• The majority of bees are actually solitary species, living not together in social colonies as honey bees and bumblebees do, but alone - although some may build their nests close to each other.
• Depending on the species, bees may nest in the ground, or in cavities (such as in tree trunks, or crevices in buildings). Some species nest on the surface of the ground, on tussocks of grass.
• Bees belong to the insect order, Hymenoptera, along with wasps, ants and sawflies.
• Bees are believed to have evolved from wasps.
• Bees have 5 eyes – 3 simple eyes on top of the head, and 2 compound eyes, with numerous hexagonal facets.
 It is believed that bees first appeared about 130 million years ago, along with the first flowering plants (angiosperms).
• The earliest known fossil bee is of Trigona prisca (Meliponinae), found in amber dating from 74 to 94 million years ago.
• The largest bee in the world is reputed to be Megachile pluto, a leafcutter bee whose females can attain a length of 39 mm (1.5") although apparently, males only grow to about 23 mm (0.9") long.
• The smallest bee in the world is believed to be Trigona minima, a stingless bee whose workers are about 2.1 mm (5/64") long.
• Bees are outstanding pollinators generally, but some bees are better suited to pollinating certain plants than other bees, depending on the bee’s method for collecting the pollen, the body shape of the bees, the tongue length, flower preference and so on. Some bees may visit a plant, but not actually pollinate it!
• Bees are trichromatic – just like humans. However, humans base their colour vision on the colours red, green and blue, where as bees base their colour vision on blue, green and UV. Bees cannot see red, but visit red flowers because they are able to see the UV markings on the petals.
• Bees have different tongue lengths, depending on the species.
• Bees are important indicators for the health of the environment. When something is wrong with our bees, something is wrong in the environment!
• During October 2010, the United Nations published a report, in which they place a value on insect pollination at £134 billion (153bn Euros). A significant portion of this pollination service is provided by bees (although they are not the only insect pollinators).
• All bees have two pairs of wings (as do wasps). But identifying and distinguishing between the different types of bees is not always easy!