Small wings.
Big deal.
Bees have been working flowers for over 100 million years. They pollinate a huge share of the crops we eat, and the wild ones are far more varied than the honey bee. Welcome to the field guide.
Meet the beesSpecies
Pick a bee to see what it's up to.
Honey
Per tablespoon (~21 g), approximate values.
Honey is mostly sugar and water. Never feed it to infants under 12 months.
Helping bees
- Plant flowers. Aim for something blooming from early spring to late fall. Single-petal flowers are easier for bees to use than double ones.
- Go native. Local wildflowers suit local bees, many of which feed on only a few plant families.
- Leave some mess. Many solitary bees nest in bare ground or hollow stems. Leave patches of soil and dead stems standing.
- Skip the pesticides. Especially neonicotinoids and any spray applied while plants are in bloom.
- Offer water. A shallow dish with pebbles to land on works well.
Do all bees sting?
Only females can sting, and most bees rarely do. Many solitary bees are very docile, and male bees have no stinger at all. Honey bees die after stinging a mammal; bumble bees and most others do not.
Bee, wasp or hornet?
Bees are fuzzy and rounder, and they feed their young pollen. Wasps are smooth and narrow-waisted, and many hunt other insects. Hornets are a type of wasp.
A short history
- Bees evolve from wasp ancestors as flowering plants spread.
- Rock paintings in Spain show people gathering wild honey.
- Egyptians keep bees in hives and use honey in food and medicine.
- The movable-frame hive lets beekeepers inspect combs without destroying them.
- Beekeepers and gardeners work to protect managed and wild bees from disease, pesticides and habitat loss.
Fun facts
