Hi everyone! Today, we’re having a great time outside and just spotted a bee landing on a flower. Let’s watch what it does without disturbing it. There it goes, buzzing off to find another flower! Bees are some of my favorite animals to watch because they always seem so busy. But have you ever wondered what they do all day?
Bees are insects, just like ants and beetles. They have six legs and three body parts. Bees are often brown or yellow and sometimes have stripes with both colors. They also have four wings that move quickly, making the buzzing sound we associate with bees. You’ve probably heard about bee stingers, but not all bees have them. Those that do only sting when they have a good reason, like when they’re scared or protecting their nest.
There are many kinds of bees, but the ones you might see most often are bumblebees and honeybees. Bumblebees are big and fluffy, while honeybees are smaller and less fuzzy. Both types make honey, but honeybees produce a lot more of it. They live in large groups inside nests called hives.
Let’s take a look inside a honeybee hive. This is the queen bee. She doesn’t wear a crown, but she has a very important job. She stays in the hive and lays lots of eggs. After a few days, these eggs hatch and grow into adult honeybees. Most of the bees in the hive are workers, and they do almost all the work. They help build and clean the hive, but their main job is to find food.
When a worker bee lands on a flower, she drinks a sweet juice called nectar. While she’s there, she also gets covered in yellow dust called pollen. The bee carries as much nectar and pollen as she can back to the hive. She feeds some to the baby bees and the queen, and turns most of the nectar into honey. Bees fly back and forth all day, collecting nectar and pollen and bringing it back to the hive. When it gets dark, they rest and start again the next morning. That’s why we say “busy as a bee”!
If you see a bee, there’s no need to be afraid, but give her space to work. Bees do more than just make honey; they also help with pollen. Next time, we’ll learn why you should thank a bee when you enjoy a delicious apple.
Thanks for joining us on SciShow Kids. If you have questions about insects, flowers, or anything else, ask a grownup to help you leave a comment or send an email to [email protected]. See you next time!
Bee Observation Journal: Spend some time outside with a grownup and try to spot different types of bees. Use a notebook to draw the bees you see and write down what they are doing. Are they visiting flowers? What colors are they? How many different kinds of bees can you find? This will help you notice the busy life of bees in your own backyard or park.
Flower and Pollen Experiment: With the help of a grownup, gather some flowers and a small paintbrush. Pretend to be a bee by using the brush to collect “pollen” from one flower and transfer it to another. Notice how the pollen sticks to the brush, just like it sticks to a bee. Talk about why this is important for flowers and how bees help plants grow.
Honey Taste Test: Try tasting different types of honey with a grownup. Notice the different flavors and colors. Discuss how bees make honey from nectar and why honey is important for the hive. Think about how much work bees do to make just a small amount of honey and why we should appreciate their hard work.
