Bumblebee
All About Bees and Wasps
Teamwork for Nature: How Bees and Wasps Maintain Balance in the Ecosystem – despite their nasty stingers!
What Are Bees and Wasps?
Bees and wasps are small insects with two antennae, two pairs of wings (which totals four), six legs, and two antennae. Bees and bumblebees collect nectar and pollen and are crucial because they pollinate plants. Wasps and hornets hunt other insects and also consume sweet human food. Both can sting, but bees and bumblebees usually do so only in self-defense.
Main Characteristics of Bees and Wasps
1. They Form Large Colonies
Honeybees, some species of bumblebees, German wasps, and hornets create colonies – sometimes with up to 60,000 individuals! They are well-organized and take on different roles. There are queens, workers, and drones. Interestingly, most wild bees and wasps are solitary.
2. They Have a Stinger
All bees and wasps have a stinger. In bees, the stinger has a barbed hook. When they sting a human, they die because it gets stuck in the skin and their abdomen tears off. Wasps, on the other hand, have a stinger without a hook. They can sting multiple times.
3. They Are Particularly Important for the Ecosystem
Bees and wasps are vital for nature because they help plants reproduce. Bees pollinate flowers, fruit trees, and many crops, leading to the production of fruits and seeds. Wasps eat many other insects, helping to maintain balance in nature.
Bee and Wasp Family Tree
Amazing Facts About Bees and Wasps
- Bees and wasps are part of the order Hymenoptera.
- There are 20,000 species of bees and 4,000 species of wasps.
- In the US, there are around 4,000 native bee species. In Germany, you can find 600 species of bees and between 500 to 600 species of wasps.
- Bumblebees are part of the bee family. Hornets belong to the wasp family.
- The wasps that buzz around our food are just the Common and German wasps. They love sweet treats, juices, and meat.
- Most bees feed on nectar and pollen.
- Wasps are omnivores. The majority of them consume other insects, plants, flowers, and fruits.
- Not all bees produce honey. Wild bees consume or process nectar immediately, without storing it in hives.
- Bees and wasps play a crucial role in nature as they pollinate flowers and consume pests.
- The most dangerous wasps are the East African lowland honey bees. When they feel threatened, they attack in swarms and pursue humans and animals within a half-mile radius (800 meters) from their nest.
- In the USA, the Africanized honeybee is feared. It is a hybrid of the European honeybee and the East African lowland honey bee. It is also known as the killer bee because it attacks in swarms.
- The largest bee is the Wallace giant bee found in Indonesia. It measures 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in length and has a wingspan of 2.5 inches (6.3 cm).
- The smallest bee is called Perdita minima and it resides in North America. It measures only 0.07 inches (2 mm) in length and weighs 0.333 mg.
- The largest wasp is called Pepsis heros and it resides in Peru. It is also the biggest species of hymenopterans. It measures up to 2.4 inches (6.2 cm) in length and has a wingspan of 4.7 inches (12.1 cm).
- The smallest wasp is Dicopomorpha echmepterygis found in Costa Rica. It is blind, lacks wings, and measures only 0.005 inches (0.139 mm) in length.
