Bees – Nature’s Tiny Powerhouses

Bees are small, flying insects that play a big role in our ecosystem. They are best known for producing honey and beeswax, but their most important job is pollination — helping plants reproduce by transferring pollen from one flower to another.

Pollination is essential for many plants, including fruit trees, vegetables, and flowers. Without bees, many of the foods we enjoy would be much harder to grow. In fact, scientists estimate that one-third of the food we eat depends on pollinators like bees.

There are over 20,000 species of bees around the world. Some of the most common include:

1. Honeybees – Live in large colonies and make honey.

2. Bumblebees – Larger, fuzzy bees that are excellent pollinators.

3. Solitary bees – Live alone and nest in the ground or in wood.

In a honeybee colony, there are three main types of bees:

1. Queen – The only bee that lays eggs.

2. Workers – Female bees that gather food, care for the young, and keep the hive clean.

3. Drones – Male bees whose main role is to mate with a queen.