Apoidae

Common Name

Bees

Overview

The Apoidae family, commonly known as bees, consists of various species known for their role in pollination and honey production. This group includes honeybees, bumblebees, stingless bees, and carpenter bees among others. Bees are found in almost every habitat that contains flowering plants.

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order:Hymenoptera
• Family: Apoidae

Key Characteristics

• Usually have two pairs of wings.
• Bodies covered with branched, feather-like setae (hairs).
• Females equipped with specialized structures for carrying pollen, such as pollen baskets (corbiculae) or scopae.
• Mouthparts adapted for both chewing and sucking.

Life Cycle

• Egg : Laid by the queen or female in a cell of the nest/hive.
• Larva : Hatches from the egg and is fed by worker bees in social species.
• Pupa : Undergoes metamorphosis within a sealed cell.
• Adult : Emerges from the cell, ready to begin their role in the colony or as solitary bees.

Behavior and Ecology

• Social structure : Many bees are eusocial, living in colonies with a queen, workers, and males (drones).
• Communication : Honeybees perform waggle dances to convey information about food sources.
• Nest building : Varies by species, can range from wax-based hives to underground burrows.
• Pollination : Bees play a pivotal role in pollinating flowering plants, which is crucial for biodiversity and human agriculture.

Notable Species

• Apis mellifera : The European honeybee, known for honey production.
• Bombus terrestris : The buff-tailed bumblebee, important in wild and agricultural pollination.
• Xylocopa virginica : The eastern carpenter bee, known for boring into wood to create nests.
• Melipona beecheii : A stingless bee species used in traditional honey production in Central and South America.

Conservation

• Threats include habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and diseases.
• Conservation efforts focus on habitat restoration, reducing pesticide use, and breeding disease-resistant bees.

Significance to Humans

• Pollination services vital to crops and natural ecosystems.
• Honey production by honeybees.
• Beeswax and other products used in various industries.
• Research on bee behavior and society provides insights into ecology and evolution.

Fun Facts

• Bees can see ultraviolet light, which helps them locate flowers.
• A single bee colony can consist of tens of thousands of bees.
• The queen honeybee can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day.
• Bumblebees can "buzz pollinate" by vibrating their bodies to release pollen.
• Honey never spoils; it’s been found in ancient Egyptian tombs still edible.