The bee is a close relative of wasps and ants- it's no wonder people find them scary and annoying. Despite the bee's not so great reputation, they're not as scary as you would think. They actually play a bigger role in our world today than they get credit for!
Before understanding why the bee is so important, it is crucial to understand the bee itself.
Reference this simple Q&A to get to know the bee a little better.
Q: WHERE DO BEES LIVE?
A: Honey bees live on every single content except Antartica! There are over 25,000 species and more are being discovered every single day. While this blog focuses mainly on the Honey Bee, it's important to remember that all bees are important to a healthy, functioning ecosystem!
Q: HOW LONG DOES A HONEY BEE LIVE?
A: A bee lives to be about 130 days old. They make a lot of honey for such a short life!
Q: HOW MUCH HONEY WILL A BEE MAKE IN ITS LIFETIME?
A: A single bee produces about 1 tablespoon of honey during its lifespan. Next time you enjoy your cup of tea with a spoonful of honey, thank a bee.
Q: WHAT IS A "COLONY"?
A: Colonies are superorganisms.*
*A superorganism is an organized society or group consisting of many individuals, that together function as a whole unit. To read more about the inner workings of a bee colony, click here.
Q: HOW BIG DOES A BEE COLONY GET?
A: A healthy colony will have 50 to 60 thousand bees during the Summer Season. A single colony will produce about 195 gallons of honey in one season!
Q: IS A COLONY JUST HONEY BEES?
A: A colony is made of up 1 queen bee, about 50,000 worker bees, and 300 drones, which are all in the category of honey bees.
Types Of Bees That Make Up A Colony
QUEEN BEE: The job of the queen bee is to lay eggs.
WORKER BEE: The worker bee has specific jobs based on their age, but typically they spend their lives caring for the hive and collecting nectar for creating honey.
DRONE BEE: The drone bees focus on expanding the hive by mating with the queen bee.
Kommentare