The Importance of Bees to Our Ecosystem
As is well known, bees are exceptionally busy creatures – one worker bee is capable of pollinating 300 million flowers in her short lifetime and one hive typically produces 60 to 100 pounds of honey! As you enjoy a spoonful of honey with your family, teach them about its source – bees! Here are a number of amazing bee facts sure to amaze them.
- Bees Have Five Eyes
Have you ever noticed bees working in your garden? Bees possess five eyes: two large compound eyes on either side of their head. Plus three simple eyes at the top of their heads to help navigate and see in various forms of light. These five eyes allow bees to navigate with precision while providing essential sight. The compound eyes of bees are complex structures with up to 150 seeing parts known as ommatidia. That form an image and send it directly to its brain. Each ommatidium responds differently and detects different wavelengths of light.
For instance, some detect blue and ultraviolet wavelengths while another detects green tones. Complex eyes enable bees to develop 3D vision, giving them the ability to perceive distance as they fly and communicate with other bees in their swarm. Furthermore, bees possess the capability of sensing polarized light which aids them in low-light conditions for navigation purposes. Bees possess three simple eyes called ocelli that do not see images. But, instead detect color changes in ambient lighting. Bees use these eyes when searching for flowers to pollinate as their hue can change with changing light conditions.
They use these ocelli to determine which flowers need pollinating because their hue changes accordingly. Ocelli are also invaluable tools in protecting bees from predators as they navigate the landscape. By sensing shadows and insect movement, bees are better protected from being ambushed by predators. Who could otherwise sneak up on them without detection. When predators approach, bees will shake their heads when threatened – this action alerts other bees in the hive about any imminent threats allowing them to quickly take a flight to escape danger.
- Bees Have Six Legs
When we hear “the bee’s knees,” it might lead us to assume bees have six legs – however, this isn’t entirely accurate as bees only use their six for certain tasks like flying or walking upright. Their legs function much like our own and their “knees” consist of joints in their legs: specifically between the femur and tibia bones with an intermediate joint known as trochanter to allow movement up or down. Humans use similar bones. Yet, enjoy a greater range of motion due to a muscle running between joints that acts upon their joints. Which allows greater range of movement compared with bees. They also possess a special area on their legs known as a pollen basket. That contains glands to enable pollen, nectar, or propolis (resin from tree buds) to be carried.
A colony’s queen bee is the only female bee; all the others are male until mating with her and storing an estimated 100 million versions in its spermatheca.
Bees also possess five eyes: three simple ones on their heads and two large compound eyes composed of many tiny lenses or facets. Being able to see the entire spectrum of colors – including ultraviolet wavelengths that humans cannot. Their compound eyes also detect sunlight polarization. Honey bees communicate with one another through dance. By vibrating their antennae and abdomen to produce a sound that can be heard by other bees. Primarily through their legs and wings. Honey bees also signal their location – for instance, waggle dance indicates food nearby while round dance signals farther off sources.
- Bees Have Three Body Parts
As with other insects, honey bees have three body parts – head, thorax, and abdomen – with each part having specific functions: brain, eyes, mouth, and antennae being in the head; while wings, legs, and organs comprise its thorax while abdomen houses its internal organs.
Bees possess a proboscis or straw-like mouth part used by bees for collecting nectar. Over evolution, it has become longer so it can reach deep within flowers to suck up all that sweet nectar before being stored away in its special honey stomach. Possessing two pairs of flat, thin, membranous wings connected by filaments to their thorax that’s used for flying. By flapping their wings together in unison. Bees can create a fan-shaped pattern to provide lift in flight. With compound eyes situated within their head along with mandibles, mouths, and antennae. Wings and legs attach to their respective thoraces while their abdomen contains internal organs. Including its stinger.
Antennae are bees’ primary senses for scent and taste. They also “hear” vibrations in the air that simulate sound waves. They have antennae with branched hairs that help it feel and 170 odor receptors to detect aroma. Communicating among themselves using antennae. Typically their right one dominates over their left one much as humans. Favoring one side over the other. With a stinger at the end of their abdomen. Which serves as a modified ovipositor to defend the hive against potential threats and parasites. Such as robber bees that try to steal honey from its queen.
- Bees Have An Exoskeleton
Bees, like other insects, possess an exoskeleton that provides them with structure and protection. Made up of chitin material that allows bees to carry heavy loads while remaining light enough to fly with. Their exoskeleton also includes hair-like structures which allow them to grasp objects with their feet or wings. With a vast array of sensory perception systems in their heads. Such as two large compound eyes and three smaller ocelli. Each eye structure contains thousands of tiny lenses which help bees recognize color, movement, and patterns. Furthermore, their antennae allow them to navigate and communicate with other bees and creatures in nature.
They use a proboscis to gather nectar from flower. Acting like a straw to siphon away liquid food from plants and transport it back to their hive for storage in a special part of their stomach. Best known as the honey stomach. While many may associate bees with flying bugs that sting. This astonishingly complex insect is far more intricate. Bee anatomy has evolved over millennia to fulfill specific roles which keep both bees and their colonies healthy. Divided into three sections – head, thorax, and abdomen. Bee legs can be broken up into two sets of six legs. Which feature wings with which the bee can move in two different directions as well as hover. Similar to other insects’ legs, bee wings pair up and work together during flight for greater thrust.
With enhanced wings that help beat 400 to 450 times per minute!
- Bees Have A Honey Stomach
One of the more persistent bee myths is that honey is simply bee poop or vomit. Which is has been questionable at best. They create honey using a special organ called the honey stomach. Which acts like a purse right in front of their digestive systems. Once a forager bee collects nectar from flowers and transports it to its honey stomach for processing into honey. It’ll place it there to begin turning into edible nectar. As soon as a forager bee lands on a flower, it uses a long tongue called a proboscis. Much like a straw to siphon nectar from it into its honey stomach. Foraging will continue until the honey stomach is filled – typically visiting 50 to 100 flowers on one trip from the hive.
Nectar in the honey stomach will begin its transformation into honey when exposed to enzymes that break down complex sugars into simple ones. Followed by inversion, which converts liquid form to the viscous texture we are familiar with. Interesting details of honey stomachs include that they do not feature a cuticle as an outer barrier. But, instead use something called the peritrophic membrane. Which acts to protect its digestive cells against biological threats that enter through its gut. With two digestive organs, known as pollen stomachs. In addition to their honey stomachs that digest nectar. One is used for digesting pollen (which provides bees with protein-rich food sources that are vital nutrients for their young). While a pollen stomach stores pollen.
Furthermore, glands secrete beeswax used to build honeycomb structures and protect from weather elements located throughout their bodies.
Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.
