There are Many Varieties of Bees in North America
Many people would be surprised to learn that there are about 3,500 different species of bees in North America; so accustomed have we become to associating the honeybee with bees. An article in Natural History titled Unsung heroines of pollination discusses this and more (May 1997 Vol. 106 Issue 4, p42). The article makes the following points:
* Some species of bees may look more like other insects we know such as wasps, flying ants and fuzzy flies.
* Although differing in appearance from the familiar honeybee such bees resemble the honeybee in their behavior. That is they engage in packing pollen from flowers onto their hind legs. or under the abdomen.
* There are bees that are native to North America which, along with some other insects that visit flowers, are capable of fulfilling the pollination needs of backyard gardens in the USA and even small farms. It is the larger farms that have become honeybee dependent.
* There is an interest in other species of bees, often referred to as pollen bees, because they are better adapted to pollinating certain crops and there has recently been a decline in the population of honeybees.
* The majority of bees, that are native to North America (about 85%), in contrast to honeybees, lead solitary lives. Their nesting locations include hollow plant stems, wooden buildings and the ground.
* Some species of bees may look more like other insects we know such as wasps, flying ants and fuzzy flies.
* Although differing in appearance from the familiar honeybee such bees resemble the honeybee in their behavior. That is they engage in packing pollen from flowers onto their hind legs. or under the abdomen.
* There are bees that are native to North America which, along with some other insects that visit flowers, are capable of fulfilling the pollination needs of backyard gardens in the USA and even small farms. It is the larger farms that have become honeybee dependent.
* There is an interest in other species of bees, often referred to as pollen bees, because they are better adapted to pollinating certain crops and there has recently been a decline in the population of honeybees.
* The majority of bees, that are native to North America (about 85%), in contrast to honeybees, lead solitary lives. Their nesting locations include hollow plant stems, wooden buildings and the ground.
Labels: Bees
posted by Paul at 10:34 AM
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