How do you react when you think of bees? Do you shiver at the thought of getting stung or are you thankful to them for their services in pollinating our food supply?
Because of the Colony Collapse Disorder that has increased the world’s awareness of “disappearing” honeybees, the general public has become somewhat more aware of our dependence on honeybees for our food supply. But there are thousands of native bees that the average person knows nothing about. These bees come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. My husband has been learning to identify these bees with the help of a microscope, as many of them are very tiny. These bees are needed to pollinate the food supply for birds and wildlife that depend on seeds and wild fruit for food.
Take a walk, alone or with your children, to look for the insects and bees that are pollinating the flowers in your neighborhood or along a country road. Look on dandelions, clover, and other wildflowers that grow wild as well as on flowers in managed flower gardens.
There is quite a mix of bees if your environment is healthy. Be aware that not everything that is yellow and black is a bee, and not everything that stings is a bee. For instance, yellow jackets are wasps, not bees.
Notice the difference in the way the insects hold their wings. Flies have only one pair of wings and short stubby antennae with a club shape on the end. Many flies mimic bees which offers them some protection from predators. Bees and wasps have two wings on each side that fold one over the other. Most bees are fuzzy with muted colors, while wasps tend to be thin, slick, and shiny with bright colors.
My husband posted pictures several years ago that show a variety of bees. You can see this photo page by clicking What’s Buzzin’ in my Garden?
By doing a Google search for a picture showing a variety of bees, I came across a picture that shows a lot of variety in solitary bees which don’t live in colonies like honeybees. (Click here to view picture) But it still neglects the many bees that are yet smaller than those shown in this photo.
You might also enjoy learning more about honeybees from a webpage I created several years ago. Please overlook any links that may need to be updated. …of Bees, Beekeepers, and Food
I would love for my readers to share their reactions to their “bee hunt” in comments below.
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