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What are Some Types of Bees?

Phil Shepley
Phil Shepley

There are over 20,000 different species, or types, of bees, which are classified by characteristics such as how they build their hives, how they socialize, how they behave and what they look like. All of the types of bees belong to one of nine families, which can be found all around the world. They can also be divided into two main groups, which are social bees, who live in colonies, and solitary bees, who live alone.

Social bees live in colonies that can contain up to 80,000 bees with one or more queens. Of the social bees, the most familiar are honey bees, stingless bees and bumble bees. A majority of bees are solitary, but often these types of bees build their nests closely together. These bees contain no worker bees, and each female acts separately as a queen, building her own nest and laying eggs in it. Examples of solitary bees include carpenter, cuckoo, mason, leaf-cutting and miner bees.

A bee.
A bee.

Honey bees are the only types of bees that make honey and wax in enough quantities so that humans can harvest them. The honey and wax are used to build large hives that are comprised of many cells, and are used to raise and feed young bees. Like most bees, they use a venomous sting to protect their homes and defend themselves, and will die if they need to use the sting. An exception to this is the stingless bee, which uses its jaws to bite despite having a tiny sting. These bees live in tropical areas and are not found in the United States.

Honey is produced by honey bees.
Honey is produced by honey bees.

Bumblebees are larger types of bees and usually are mostly black, yellow and covered with fine hair. These bees do not die if they use their stinger and can sting repeatedly when defending themselves. The queen bumblebee is the only member of the colony that lives through the winter and starts a new colony in the springtime.

One of the major types of bees that are solitary is the carpenter bee, which builds its nest in dead wood, branches or bamboo. Female carpenter bees will burrow a tunnel that they seal off after laying an egg along with pollen and nectar. Another solitary bee is the cuckoo bee, which cannot provide food for its own young because it cannot collect pollen on its hind legs. Some cuckoo bees are known to lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees, which will hatch before the other bee and "steal" the food that was left for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common types of bees?

A queen bee surrounded by attendants.
A queen bee surrounded by attendants.

The most common types of bees include the honeybee, known for its honey production and pollination, and the bumblebee, recognizable by its larger, fuzzy body and also an important pollinator. Other common types are carpenter bees, which burrow into wood to nest, and solitary bees like mason bees and leafcutter bees, which are efficient pollinators and often nest in hollow stems or soil.

How do honeybees contribute to agriculture and the environment?

Honeybees play a crucial role in agriculture and the environment by pollinating a vast array of plants, including many crops humans rely on for food. According to the American Beekeeping Federation, bees contribute to the pollination of about one-third of the food we eat, highlighting their essential role in sustaining our food supply and maintaining ecological balance.

Are all bees social insects, or do some live alone?

Not all bees are social; many species are solitary. While honeybees and bumblebees live in colonies with a queen and workers, solitary bees like mason bees and leafcutter bees do not form hives. Instead, they nest individually in tunnels or holes in the ground, with each female bee laying her eggs and providing for them alone.

What distinguishes bumblebees from other bee species?

Bumblebees are distinguished from other bee species by their larger, fuzzy bodies and their ability to "buzz pollinate," a technique where they rapidly vibrate their flight muscles to dislodge pollen from flowers. This makes them particularly effective at pollinating certain types of crops, such as tomatoes and blueberries, which require this specialized form of pollination.

Can you identify a carpenter bee, and are they harmful to structures?

Carpenter bees can be identified by their robust, black body, often with a shiny abdomen and some yellow markings. Unlike termites, carpenter bees do not eat wood but excavate tunnels for nesting, which can cause cosmetic damage to structures. They prefer untreated or weathered wood and can be deterred by painting or sealing exposed wood surfaces.

What role do solitary bees play in the ecosystem?

Solitary bees, although they do not produce honey or wax, are vital pollinators in the ecosystem. They often have specialized relationships with certain plants, ensuring the reproduction of those species. Their foraging habits contribute significantly to the biodiversity and productivity of ecosystems, making them indispensable for the health of natural and agricultural landscapes.

Discussion Comments

motherteresa

The chemical in bee sting is called melittin. The bee can sting only once, with the exception of a wasp. Wasps do not die, like bees after they sting, they continue on as if nothing happened.

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    • A bee.
      A bee.
    • Honey is produced by honey bees.
      By: Jaimie Duplass
      Honey is produced by honey bees.
    • A queen bee surrounded by attendants.
      A queen bee surrounded by attendants.