Honey Bees and Bumblebees Swarming Flowery Meadow

Twelve different species of bees swarming a flowery meadow. Honey bee 1) worker, 2) male, 3) queen. 4 and 5 Common Bumblebee. Lapidary bee 6) male, 7) female. 8) Carder bee. 9) Donovan's bumblebee, 10) Harris bumblebee. False Bumblebees 11) Apathus vestalis, 12) Apathus rupestris. Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their role in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey and beeswax. Some species including honey bees, bumblebees, and stingless bees live socially in colonies. Bees are adapted for feeding on nectar and pollen, the former primarily as an energy source and the latter primarily for protein and other nutrients. Most pollen is used as food for larvae. Bee pollination is important both ecologically and commercially; the decline in wild bees has increased the value of pollination by commercially managed hives of honey bees. Colored etching by J. Bishop after James Stewart

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

Apicology Apiculture Beekeeping Bees Bumble Bumblebee Carder Honey Honeybee Keeping Lapidary Melittology Pollinate Pollinating Pollination Rupestris

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