Bee: photo + interesting facts

The bee is a representative of the order Hymenoptera, which is closely related to ants and wasps. All his life, the insect has been collecting nectar, which is later transformed into honey. Bees live in large families, headed by a queen.

bee: is it an animal or insect

The bee is a flying insect characterized by a long body with large yellow stripes. Its size varies from 3 to 45 mm. The body is made up of three parts:

• head;
• chest;
• abdomen.

A distinctive feature of the insect is the faceted structure of the eyes, due to which the bees are able to distinguish colors. In the upper part of the body are wings that provide movement through the air. Three pairs of insect legs are covered with small hairs. Their presence facilitates the process of cleaning the antennas and gripping the wax plates. In the lower part of the body is a stinging apparatus. When danger arises, a flying individual releases a sting, through which poison enters the attacker’s body. After such a maneuver, she dies.

The value of bees in nature

The bee is considered one of the most able-bodied individuals. Its function is to pollinate plants. The presence of hairs on her body facilitates the process of transferring pollen from one place to another. Keeping a bee hive on an agricultural plot leads to an increase in yield.

Benefits of bees for humans

Representatives of Hymenoptera benefit not only nature, but also humans. Their main function is the production of honey, which is a rich source of nutrients. Bee products are widely used in cooking, medicine and cosmetology. Beekeepers make a good profit, since the price of quality honey is quite high.

People began to use bee families for personal purposes several centuries ago. Today, insect breeding is considered both a hobby and a stable source of income. The benefits of representatives of Hymenoptera for humans are as follows:

• increase in yield as a result of active pollination of plants;
• saturation of the body with vitamins and minerals when ingesting beekeeping products;
• treatment of various diseases within the framework of apitherapy.

For medicinal purposes, apidomics with Hymenoptera are often used. They are a wooden structure with insects inside. Above is a couch on which the patient is placed. It does not come into contact with hymenoptera in any way, which reduces the chance of being bitten. But at the same time, a special microclimate is created inside the hive, which favorably affects health.

What do bees give

Honey is far from the only product produced by bees. There are many other products that value Hymenoptera. They are used in the manufacture of traditional medicine, eaten and used in cosmetology. The waste products of insects include:

• bee venom;
• wax;
• propolis;
• bee bread;
• royal jelly;
• chitin;
• zabrus.

How did the bees

The life of bees originated on earth more than fifty million years ago. According to the data collected by paleontologists, wasps appeared much earlier. One of their varieties in the process of evolution changed the type of feeding of the family. Insects built cells inside which they laid their eggs. After hatching, the larvae were fed flower pollen. In the future, the organs of secretion began to change in insects, the limbs began to adapt to the collection of food. The hunting instinct was replaced by the instinct of pollinating plants and feeding the brood.

The homeland of flying hymenoptera is South Asia. As insects settled in places with different climatic conditions, new skills appeared. In the conditions of a cold winter, representatives of Hymenoptera began to build shelters, where they warm each other, uniting in a ball. At this time, the bees feed on food stored in the fall. In spring, insects begin to work with renewed vigor.

When did bees appear on earth?

Scientists claim that Hymenoptera arose more than 50 million years ago. From Asia, they spread across South India and then into the Middle East. They headed to Our Country from the southwest, but did not settle further than the Ural Mountains due to the harsh climate. In Siberia, they appeared only 200 years ago. Hymenoptera were brought to America artificially.

How were bees kept?

The oldest type of beekeeping in Our Country was considered wild. People found hives of wild bees and took away the accumulated honey from them. In the future, beekeeping began to be practiced. A board was called an artificially made hollow inside a tree. It served as a place of settlement for a bee colony. A flooring was placed inside, which simplified the process of collecting honey. The hole in the imitation of a hollow was covered with pieces of wood, leaving a notch for working individuals.

In Our Country, boards were considered a luxury. For the ruin of princely nests, a heavy fine was imposed. In some hollows, honey was collected for several years. Members of the bee family completely filled the honeycombs with honey, after which they left the hive due to lack of space for further work. Beekeeping was also practiced at monasteries. The main goal of the clergy was to collect wax from which candles were made.

The next stage in the development of beekeeping was the production of logs. Apiaries have gained mobility. They were not located on trees, but on the ground. Developed various techniques for exercising control over representatives of Hymenoptera. The hives began to be equipped with containers for collecting honey and other devices.

The life of a bee from birth to death

The life cycle of representatives of Hymenoptera is quite complex and multi-stage. The set of stages in the development of an insect is called brood. Eggs and larvae are considered open brood, and pupae are considered sealed. An insect goes through several stages throughout its life:

• egg laying;
• larva;
• prepupa;
• pupa;
• an adult.

Bees feed on nectar and pollen from flowering plants. Features of the structure of the jaw apparatus allow you to collect food through the proboscis, from where it enters the goiter. There, under the influence of physiological processes, the food is transformed into honey. Harvest from the apiary is harvested by beekeepers at the beginning of summer. But there are also exceptions to this rule. For the winter, insects prepare a supply of food. The wintering process depends on its quantity and quality.

The uterus is responsible for the process of reproduction in the bee family. She is the leader of the hive. Outwardly, it is much larger than the rest of the individuals. During mating with the drone, the queen retains seminal fluid in her body. During the laying of eggs, she independently fertilizes them, moving from one cell to another. Worker bees will be formed in such cells. The uterus fills the wax cells with unfertilized eggs. In the future, drones grow out of them.

3 days after oviposition, larvae are formed. Their bodies are white. The eyes and legs are not visualized. But the digestive abilities are already actively developed. During maturation, the larva actively absorbs food brought to it by workers. When moving to the next stage of the life cycle, representatives of Hymenoptera are sealed in cells with brood. In this position, the prepupa begins to spin a cocoon. This period lasts from 2 to 5 days.

At the next stage, the prepupa transforms into a pupa. It already resembles an adult, but still differs from it with a white body. The duration of stay at this stage is 5-10 days. 18 days after the final maturation, the representative of Hymenoptera makes the first flight.

The adult life of a bee is filled with collecting nectar and feeding the brood in the hive. The uterus is engaged in laying eggs, and males accompany her during mating flights. At the end of life, bees perform a protective function. They make sure that uninvited guests do not get into the hive. If an insect detects a foreign individual, it will sacrifice its life to inject poison into the attacker’s body. After a bite, the insect leaves a sting in the body of the victim, after which it dies.

What does a bee look like

The worker differs from other representatives of Hymenoptera in the shape of the body and coloring. Unlike the wasp, the body of the bee is covered with small hairs. In size, it is much smaller than the hornet and wasp. From the lower part of the abdomen, the hymenoptera has a stinger. It has a notch, so the insect is not able to sting repeatedly. Once inserted, the sting is lodged in the victim’s body. A close-up photo will help to examine in detail the structure of the body of a bee.

Interesting facts about bees

Information about bees is useful not only for beekeepers, but also for those who try not to contact Hymenoptera. This will help broaden your horizons and avoid insect bites in places where they accumulate.

The biggest bee in the world

The largest bee in the world belongs to the megachilid family. In scientific language, it is called Megachile pluto. The wingspan of the insect is 63 mm, and the body length reaches 39 mm.

Where do bees live

Bees produce honey in all climatic zones where there are flowering plants. They live in earthen burrows, crevices and hollows. The main criteria for choosing a home are protection from the wind and the presence of a reservoir in the immediate vicinity.

How much does a bee weigh

The weight of a bee depends on its species and age. An individual making the first flight weighs 0,122 g. As it grows older, due to the filling of the goiter with nectar, its weight increases to 0,134 g. Old flying bees weigh in the region of 0 g. The body size of a dwarf bee is 075 mm.

How do bees communicate with each other

The language of bees is a manifestation of instincts. It is known to every individual from birth. Having found a new place to collect nectar, the scout bee must inform the rest of the family. To do this, she uses sign language. The bee begins to dance in a circle, thereby reporting the news. The speed of movement indicates the remoteness of the found food. The slower the dance, the farther away the nectar is. By the smell coming from the hymenoptera, the rest of the individuals will learn about where to go in search of food.

How bees see

The visual function of Hymenoptera is a complex tool. It includes simple and compound eyes. Large lenses located on the sides of the head are often mistaken for the only organ of vision. In fact, there are simple eyes on the crown and forehead that allow you to see objects up close. Due to the presence of faceted vision, Hymenoptera have a large viewing angle.

Insects distinguish geometric shapes poorly. Despite this, they see voluminous objects well. The main advantage of Hymenoptera lies in the ability to recognize polarized light and ultraviolet rays.

What colors do bees see?

In the middle of the 20th century, scientists discovered that Hymenoptera did not react at all to the color red. But they perceive white, blue and yellow colors well. Sometimes representatives of Hymenoptera confuse yellow with green, and instead of blue they see purple.

Can bees see in the dark

In the dusk, representatives of Hymenoptera are able to calmly navigate in space. This is due to the ability to see polarized light. If there are no light sources, then she will not find the way to her home.

How far do bees fly

Most often, working individuals of Hymenoptera fly for nectar at a distance of 2-3 km from the house. During the swarming period, they can fly 7-14 km from their native home. It is believed that the radius of flights depends on the activity of the bee family. If it is weakened, then flights will be carried out at close range.

How bees fly

The principle of bee flight is considered unique. The insect wing moves in the opposite direction when turning 90°. In 1 second, about 230 wing beats are made.

How fast is a bee flying

Without a load of nectar, the bee flies faster. Its speed in this case varies from 28 to 30 km / h. The flight speed of a loaded bee is 24 km/h.

How high do bees fly

Even in the presence of wind, Hymenoptera are able to rise up to 30 m from the ground. But usually they collect nectar at a height of no more than 8 m. The mating process of queens with drones occurs at a height of more than 10 m. The higher the insect rises, the less nectar it will collect. This is due to the need to feed on their reserves with intensive energy expenditure.

How bees find their way home

When looking for a way to their home, bees are guided by smell and surrounding objects. Making their first flight, hymenoptera evaluate the environment by the location of trees and various buildings. Already at this moment they draw up a rough plan of the area. This helps you find your way home when flying long distances.

What is the maximum temperature that bees can withstand?

In winter, insects do not fly. They hibernate in the hive, gathering in a large ball. In their home, they manage to maintain a temperature of 34-35 ° C. It is comfortable for growing brood. The maximum temperature that insects can withstand is 45°C.

How do bees handle heat?

Beekeepers try not to put the hive under the sun. Insects endure intense heat with difficulty. It is important not only to monitor the temperature indicators, but also to provide the necessary oxygen access to the hive.

When bees stop flying in autumn

The features of the life of bees include a decrease in physical activity with the onset of cold weather. Flights for nectar end in October. Sometimes there are single departures of certain individuals.

How do bees sleep

The facts about the activity of bees will be relevant for those who are used to collecting honey in the dark. At night, insects prefer to be in their home. Their sleep is intermittent, for 30 seconds. They combine short rest with active work.

Do bees sleep at night

Hymenoptera stop working at 8-10 pm, depending on the length of the daylight hours. If you approach the hive at night and listen, you can hear a characteristic rumble. While some members of the family are resting, other individuals continue to produce honey. As a result, the activity of insects does not stop for a second.

How to put the bees to sleep for a while

Knowing everything about bees, you can easily perform any action with them. For example, ammonium nitrate is able to inject insects into anesthesia. This method is practiced if the family is too violent. But most often, beekeepers select the most harmless ways to limit the mobility of working individuals.

When bees stop collecting honey

According to the calendar of beekeepers, hymenoptera stop carrying honey from August 14th. This day is called Honey Spas. Further actions of insects are aimed at replenishing honey reserves for the wintering period. In relation to the life cycle of a worker, the process of collecting honey is carried out until the moment of death. On average, the life span of a working individual is 40 days.

How bees make perga

Representatives of Hymenoptera produce pollen by processing pollen. They mix it with their own enzymes and seal it in honeycombs. From above, insects pour a small amount of honey. During fermentation, lactic acid is produced, which is also a preservative.

Are there bees that don’t sting?

There are varieties of Hymenoptera that do no harm to humans. Scientists number about 60 species of such bees. One of them is melipons. They completely lack a sting, which makes the process of introducing poison impossible. Melipons live in places with a tropical climate. Their main function is to pollinate crops.

A distinctive feature of this species of Hymenoptera is the erection of horizontal and vertical hives. There is no clear division of labor in the family of this species. Recently, the insect population has been declining.

Conclusion

The bee lives a busy life filled with a lot of useful things. It is engaged in the production of honey, perga and propolis, which are beneficial to the human body. Proper care of the bee family makes its work long and more productive.