🐝 At first glance, bees may seem rather unremarkable. After all, they’re small, they buzz, and they’re often responsible for those painful (albeit momentary) stings. However, bees are actually quite interesting creatures, and they play a vital role in our eco-system. Here are five fascinating facts about bees that you may not have known.
#Fact 1
Most bees are not aggressive and will only sting humans if they feel threatened. In fact, worker bees die after they sting because their stinger gets stuck in the victim’s skin.
#Fact 2
Bees are commonly thought of as insects, but they’re actually classified as arthropods. This means that they share a common ancestor with crabs, spiders, and other invertebrates.
#Fact 3
Bees have been around for a very long time—more than 150 million years, to be exact. In contrast, Homo sapiens have only been around for about 200,000 years.
#Fact 4
There are more than 20,000 bee species in the world. However, the vast majority of these species are solitary bees that live alone or in small groups rather than in hives.
#Fact 5
Bees are responsible for pollinating many of the fruits and vegetables that we eat on a daily basis. In fact, it’s estimated that one out of every three bites of food that we take is thanks to pollination by bees.
Conclusion
Bees may seem like simple creatures, but there’s actually a lot more to them than meets the eye. From their important role in pollination to their classification as arthropods, bees are fascinating creatures with a long and rich history. The next time you see a bee buzzing around your yard or picnic blanket, take a moment to appreciate all that these little creatures do for us—and for the world at large.
