Only four of these species are honeybees, of which the western honeybee Apis mellifera is the one we took to the US and then on to Australasia. Around species of bees are different types of bumblebees. Their hairier coats can attract more pollen and they can fly at colder temperatures than honeybees.
Some species are long-tongued so are better at pollinating plants with long, tubular flowers. While most bumblebees are wild, some species are increasingly used commercially to buzz pollinate. Research shows that under the same conditions, bumbles can actually pollinate more flowers per bee than honeybees, though a honeybee colony 50, bees in the summer is much larger than a colony of bumblebees only As their name suggests they live alone.
Many are adapted to pollinate one type of plant and their life cycle is synced with the plant so they are able to pollinate it and feed their young at the same time. Most people have heard about colony collapse disorder , which wiped out a third of all honeybee colonies in the US when it first struck back in When inclement weather confines bees to the hive during the spring and summer they become weak and easy prey for the parasitic varroa mite to spread viruses that kill off its host.
But in many ways, the uncertain future of wild bumblebees and solitary bees is even more alarming than the honeybee death toll, since beekeepers are able to restock their hives each year. The habitat that wild bees depend on to nest and forage is increasingly disappearing due to modern farming practices and urbanisation. During that time two bumblebee species have become extinct , and of the 24 species left only eight are commonly found.
John Muir, a giant of the conservation movement, summed up the importance of bees to the human race when he said: Topics Bees The autocomplete questions. Can honey be toxic to humans? How can you tell when bees are about to swarm?
How does the swarm locate its new home? How far do bees fly? How high do bees fly? How do foraging bees find their way home? What happens to flying bees in bad weather? What does it feel like to be stung by a bee? Do killer bees really exist? Does a bee die after it has stung somebody? How do stingless bees defend themselves? Is being stung by a bee dangerous? What is bee venom? Does collecting venom kill the bees? How can you avoid being stung by a bee?
TEN Dangers to Bees. How do bees survive harsh weather? What parasites and insects prey on bees? Which other animals prey on bees? Does a bee heal if it gets injured?
How are bee diseases spread? Do bees ever need antibiotic drugs? What is dysentery for a bee? What does a beekeepers hive look like? How do beehives vary in other countries? What is a bee skep? How does a beekeeper manage a hive?
How does a beekeeper take honey from a hive? Can the beekeeper stop the bees from swarming? Why do some beekeepers clip the queens wings? What is a smoker? How is beeswax harvested? Are there any reasons why people should not keep bees?
How can I safely observe bees? B Suggestions for Further Reading. It really does not overlap any other work. It is effectively organized and well and clearly written. It should appeal to bat biologists, students, and to members of the general public who are interested in bats. The authors use correct entomological terminology as needed and do an excellent job of defining each technical term as it appears.
What really surprised me was how, even in a format intended for a general audience, the co-authors were able to convey the vigor of scientific research on bees, including the need for more research on key issues. I think that this book has the potential not only to satisfy curiosity and to entertain, but also to recruit new investigators to bee research What a great new book! I must say that this is a very refreshing change of pace Bravo to the authors!
The thing that I like most about this book is that the authors used a full explanation of technical terms and phrases throughout the text to simplify reading and understanding I see no real comparison of this new book with anything previously printed I have read over parts of it and have already learned some stuff You have succeeded in aupplying some good answers to interesting questions. It's well worth a purchase. White, Emeritus Professor of Zoology, Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University "This new book is a fascinating read, packed full with information that is properly referenced, something that I always like to see in books that are attempting to interpret complex matters for non-specialists.
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