Sep 4, 2024
Nearly 90% of wild plants and 75% of global crops rely on animal pollination, with bees playing a crucial role. Remarkably, one-third of our food depends on pollinators. Crops requiring pollination are five times more valuable than those that don’t.
Image Source: Pixabay
Social bees like honeybees and bumblebees build hives or nests both above and below ground, while solitary bees often nest in the soil. You can find bees in surprising places, including marshes, sand dunes, sea walls and even post-industrial sites.
Image Source: Pixabay
Imagine Britain without roads—life would be challenging! B-Lines offer a creative fix for lost flowers and pollinators. These ‘insect pathways’ connect wildlife areas across towns and countryside, forming a network like a railway to support bees and other pollinators.
Image Source: Pixabay
If you find a struggling bumblebee, it might just be resting, especially if it’s a queen in early spring. Gently place it on a bee-friendly flower. If none are available, mix equal parts white sugar and water to offer a quick energy boost. Avoid brown sugar and honey.
Image Source: Pixabay
Everyone can support bees, whether in gardens, balconies, or windowsills. Spread the word about the importance of bees and encourage others to create bee-friendly spaces. Plant diverse flowers like primrose, foxglove, and marigolds to provide nectar from March to October.
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Bees have four wings that function uniquely: two wings on each side hook together to form one large pair during flight and unhook when they are resting.
Image Source: Pixabay
Honeybees perform the 'waggle dance' to guide nestmates to the best food sources. This dance isn’t a dance at all but a complex communication method. Researchers at Sussex University spent two years decoding this intricate behaviour.
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Despite having a brain the size of a poppy seed, buff-tailed bumblebees can be trained to play ‘bee football’ for a sugary reward. This impressive feat showcases their remarkable cognitive abilities. Quite unbee-lievable!
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Research from the University of Bristol reveals that bumblebees use their 'smelly feet' to tell apart their own scent, relatives, and strangers. This olfactory skill helps them find food more efficiently and avoid flowers already visited by others.
Image Source: Pixabay
When a queen bee dies, honeybee workers can raise a new one. They select a young larva and feed it 'royal jelly', which transforms the larva into a fertile queen. This special food ensures the hive's continuity and the queen's vital role.
Image Source: Pixabay
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