Bee

Bee’s body is divided into three parts: a head with two antennae, a thorax with six legs, and an abdomen. All bees have branched hairs somewhere on their bodies and two pairs of wings. Only female bees have stingers (which are modified ovipositors, organs originally used to lay eggs).

Here are some characteristics of bees:
    • Body

      Bees have short, thick bodies covered with hair. Their bodies are divided into three parts: a head with two antennae, a thorax with six legs, and an abdomen. 

       
    • Size

      Adult bees are usually 0.08–1.6 inches (2–40 millimeters) long. The largest bee is Wallace’s giant bee, which can have a wingspan of about 2.5 inches (64 millimeters). 

    • Color

      Most bees have black bodies, but many have yellow or brown markings. Honeybees are dark brown or black with yellow or orange stripes, while bumblebees are usually black with wide yellow or orange bands. 

  • Eyes

    Bees have five eyes, including two large eyes on either side of their head and three smaller eyes on top. The smaller eyes detect light, but not shapes, which helps bees sense if they are being approached from above. 

  • Wings

    Bees have two pairs of wings. 

  • Stinger

    Only female bees have stingers, which are modified ovipositors that were originally used to lay eggs. Losing a stinger will cause a bee to die. 

  • Life cycle

    Bees undergo complete metamorphosis, passing through four stages of development: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. 

  • Nesting

    Bees use a variety of nesting strategies, including living alone, sharing a nest with other females, or invading the nest of another species. 

  • Pollination
    Bees are known for their role in pollination. 
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