Learn More About Bees
Bees
Bee are descended from one of these wasp species. Wasps are carnivorous and stocked their nests with insect prey for their offspring to feed on. Many of those unfortunate insects would have fed on pollen, and been covered in it too. Bees evolved when some wasps developed a taste for pollen alone and left their carnivorous ways behind.
Bee fossils are rare, but a few of their early ancestors have been discovered trapped in amber. One found recently in Myanmar shows a transitional form from wasp to bee, while the oldest known bee fossil is of a stingless bee from 80 million years ago. DNA sequencing suggests that bees first appeared 130 million years ago. It’s no coincidence that this was when the first flowering plant developed.
Lifecycle, Diet & All
Bee Characteristic
The Bee Lifecycle
Every of its species starts as an egg range in size equivalent of a grain of rice, but it doesn’t crack open like a chicken egg when it’s time to hatch. Instead, its soft membrane dissolves, and its nutrients get absorbed by a tiny larva.
In the larval stage, the helpless grub must eat a tremendous amount of food. Mother bees are in charge of collecting a supply of pollen and nectar so that it’s young have the energy to grow.
A bees larva will shed its skin five times before entering its final period of development: the pupal stage. However, some bee species spend months or even years in a larva state before going through a metamorphosis.
Just like the caterpillar of a moth, the larva spins a cocoon before transforming itself. Inside the cocoon, the larva develops a head, legs, and body before finally sprouting its hair and wings. Once the change is complete, the young bee live by chewing its way out of the cocoon and commences its adult life.
The Bee Anatomy
The Ocelli – the three eyes on top of a it’s head are for navigation. They also have two large compound eyes made up of thousands of tiny lenses which show them their surroundings as little dots of colours. Their mandible (jaw) is used for everything from carrying pollen and feeding larvae to fighting and gripping. Most of a bee’s information about its surroundings comes from its antennae.
They may have long or short tongues, depending on the type of flowers their species tend to visit. They have two pairs of interlocking wings, which beats in a figure-of-eight pattern at around 230 beats per second in flight, creating a familiar buzzing sound.
It’s legs are adapted for different tasks and are segmented and flexible. They have tarsal claws on their feet to help them grip and display a preference for petals with conical cells that act like Velcro. Only female bees have the sting in the tail, as their stinger has evolved from their egg-laying tube.
Bees have openings in their side called spiracles, and they breathe through these, drawing air straight through their exoskeleton to where it is needed.
They are covered in pollen-collecting hairs called scopae.
The Bee Pollination
Around 90 percent of the world’s wildflowers rely on pollination by animals, rather than wind or water. Although they aren’t the only creatures doing the work – butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles, and even some birds and bats help out. They are nature’s prime pollinators and are completely dependent on nectar and pollen for survival.
They are unusual in that they feed pollen and nectar directly to their larvae too, so they need a good supply.
Honeybees visit up to 100 flowers every time they leave the hive and may do this 15 or more times a day. Bees are solitary and live to outperform their social cousins when it comes to gather pollen. With no “pollen baskets” on their legs, they end up scattering much more pollen around.
An enormous variety of bee species has evolved to support our planet’s huge variety of plants. And that’s why we must maintain this diversity. Losing one type of plant or bee can mean the loss of the organism it has adapted to support.
Learn to know when you'll need Bee Control Services
Signs of Bees Infestation
Although bee infestations do not often happen in the island, there is still a possibility for it to happen. Their stings can cause an allergic reaction and the buzzing sounds can also be irritating. Watch out for these signs:
Residual Stain
Beehives are inconspicuous and can be maintained in some surprising places. When honeybees produce honey, they can leave dark patches on ceiling walls.
It is best to contact Pest Control experts when you see this sign, as this can attract other unwanted pests.
Bee Sighting
Depending on the species, some colonies can grow quite large in United States. Some may have as many as one hundred thousand members, all working together to form complex cooperation as if they were one animal.
The Guard-bees defend nest entrance of the hive from intruders.
Stay indoors and away as they might sting if threatened.
Bee Nest
Social bees require more space and will nest in a variety of cavities, from abandoned rodent burrows and hollow logs to more creative spots such as compost bins and barbecue grills.
In temperature climates, honeybees sometime build open-air hives and use their bodies to heat their nests.
Please do not attempt to remove it as the result could be fatal.
Bee Sting
Honeybees generally die after they sting – their barbed stinger is pulled away when they tries to retract it through tough mammalian skin – but most other species have a barbless stinger that can be used time and again.
We highly recommend a visit the nearest doctor for further assistance.
These are just some of the bees can be found in Singapore
Types of Bees
MALAYAN BEES
Are native of south and southeast Asia mainly in the forested area. Also known as the Giant Honey Bees or Apis Dorsata. Indigenous people use this species as a source of honey and beeswax.
BUMBLE BEES
Fat furry bumblebee, black but thorax a striking tawny orange, brown or reddish, and tail tip bright white. Length 15-20mm, wingspan 25-35mm.
HONEY BEES
Long-oval, but a rather stout flying insect. Brown or black, marked with bands of lighter chestnut, red, or orange-yellow across the abdomen. A light covering of short hairs, often in bands. Length 12-15mm, wingspan 25-30mm.
CARPENTER BEES
Massive, shining blue-black bee. Large, heavy, and stout. Body all-shinning, inky blue-black. Large wings iridescent blue-black with legs black and stout. Length 35mm, wingspan 65mm.
SWEAT BEES
Stout and moderately hairy bees. Dark brown, but variously tufted with bands of brown or metallic with yellow markings, abdomen or thorax often wholly lighter colour. Wings cleared, legs of yellow hairs. Length 4-9mm, wingspan 20mm.
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