Bees belong to the insect order Hymenoptera, which also includes wasps and ants. The vast majority of the world’s approximately 20,000 bee species do not consume other bugs. Their biology is specifically adapted for plant-based nutrition, focusing on gathering resources from flowering plants for pollination. While the general answer is no, there are extremely rare and specialized exceptions to this rule.
The Primary Bee Diet
The standard diet for most bees is entirely plant-derived, a feeding habit known as herbivory. They require two distinct resources from flowers to sustain both the adult insects and their developing young. Nectar, a sugary liquid produced by the plant, serves as the primary source of carbohydrates, providing energy for flight and colony activities. This collected nectar is then processed and stored within the hive as honey, which acts as the colony’s long-term fuel reserve.
Pollen, the fine powder bees gather, provides the remaining nutrients, including proteins, lipids, and various minerals. This is particularly important for the growth of larvae, which require a protein-rich diet to develop fully. Adult worker bees mix the pollen with nectar and digestive enzymes to create a fermented product known as “bee bread,” which is then fed to the brood.
Specialized Carnivorous Bees
A small, unique group of tropical insects known as “Vulture Bees” represents the most striking deviation from the typical bee diet. These stingless bees, primarily species within the genus Trigona, are found in the rainforests of Central and South America. They have evolved to obtain their protein not from pollen, but from consuming carrion, such as dead insects and decaying animal flesh. This remarkable dietary shift is thought to be an adaptation driven by intense competition for floral resources in their jungle environment.
To manage this unusual food source, the vulture bees have developed a radically different internal biology compared to their vegetarian relatives. Their gut microbiome is highly specialized, containing acid-loving bacteria similar to those found in true carrion feeders like vultures and hyenas. These bacteria help to digest flesh and protect the bees from the dangerous pathogens that thrive on rotting meat. These bees even use the pollen baskets on their hind legs to carry bits of meat back to the nest, where it is stored for the colony to consume.
Mistaken Identity: Wasps and Hornets
The perception that bees eat other bugs often stems from confusing them with their close relatives, the wasps and hornets. Their diets and behaviors are distinctly different. Unlike bees, which are covered in branched, feather-like hairs for pollen collection, most wasps and hornets have smooth, less hairy bodies and a noticeably narrow separation between their thorax and abdomen.
The diet of wasps and hornets is largely carnivorous, especially when feeding their young. Adult wasps consume liquids like nectar or fruit juices for energy, but they actively hunt and kill other insects, such as caterpillars and spiders, to bring back to their larvae. This predatory behavior is a primary reason the public often misidentifies a bee as a hunter of other bugs.