Homeschool Unit Study: Bees

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Bees are insects, and like all insects, they have three parts of their body: an abdomen, a head with two antennae, and a thorax with six legs. Though they are traditionally yellow and black, they come in an assortment of other colors and sheens. They also have a wide variety of sizes, going from the miniscule Perdita minima bee, which is shorter than 2 millimeters long, to the hefty carpenter bees and the ever-iconic bumble bee.

Of the more than 20,000 bee species across the globe, North America sports about 4,000 native bee species across a large selection of ecosystems and climates.

Though bees are often associated with their painful sting, they are generally much more docile than wasps or other similar creatures. The most aggressive kind of bee is the honeybee when their hives or young are in danger. All female bees can sting, but they generally keep to themselves and are not dangerous unless threatened.

Bees are responsible for an enormous amount of pollination in the world. Pollination can be summarized as fertilizing different plants through the bee’s nectar feeding habits. Through pollination, plants are able to reproduce, which creates a necessary food source for humans and animals.

For such a miniscule creature, bees are staggeringly crucial to the sustainability of plant life. In the United States, bees are responsible for around 80 percent of all flowering plants, including 75 percent of vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Without them, the world would be a very different, and much harsher, ecosystem.

Unfortunately, despite their overwhelmingly vital role in the world, bee species are in decline and, in some cases, are officially endangered. Learn more about these fascinating creatures with the resources below.