Bees are widely distributed insects found on every continent except Antarctica, inhabiting diverse environments where flowering plants grow. These creatures contribute to ecosystems worldwide. Their presence is a familiar sight in gardens and agricultural fields.
What are Bees?
Bees are winged insects classified within the superfamily Apoidea, part of the order Hymenoptera. This group encompasses over 20,000 known species across seven recognized families. For instance, some stingless bee species are less than 2 millimeters long, while the leafcutter bee Megachile pluto can reach lengths of 39 millimeters.
Bee species can be broadly categorized into two main groups: social and solitary. Social bees, such as honey bees, bumblebees, and stingless bees, live in structured colonies with cooperative brood care and a division of labor among reproductive and non-reproductive adults. In contrast, over 90% of bee species are solitary, meaning each female constructs and provisions her own nest independently without a queen or worker caste. Solitary bees typically do not produce honey or beeswax.
The Ancient History of Bees
Bees evolved from ancient predatory wasps approximately 120 million years ago. While their wasp ancestors were carnivorous, bees developed a herbivorous diet, feeding on nectar and pollen. The earliest fossil evidence of bees dates back to the Late Cretaceous period.
The emergence of flowering plants around 100 million years ago coincided with the emergence of bees as pollinators. This co-evolutionary relationship led to both bees and plants adapting to benefit each other. For example, adult bees developed adaptations like pollen-collecting hairs and buzz-pollination, which dislodges pollen from flowers. Flowers, in turn, evolved features such as ultraviolet patterns, color changes, and fragrances to attract bees and guide them toward nectar and pollen rewards.
Bees’ Indispensable Role
Bees perform a fundamental ecological function through pollination, the transfer of pollen that enables fertilization and the production of seeds and fruits. This process is necessary for the reproduction of countless wild plant species, supporting biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. These plants provide food and habitat for numerous other species, extending the impact of bee pollination throughout the food web.
Beyond natural ecosystems, bees also play a significant role in human agriculture. They contribute to the production of a significant portion of the world’s fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oilseeds. Approximately 35% of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators, with bees being primary contributors. The economic value of this pollination service to global agriculture is estimated to be over $235 billion annually.
Bees and Their Products
Humans have long benefited from bees beyond their pollination services, using various products from their hives. Honey is the most well-known bee product, serving as a natural sweetener and food source. Bees produce honey through a process involving regurgitation, enzymatic activity, and water evaporation.
Beeswax, secreted by worker bees, is used to construct the hexagonal cells of honeycombs for honey storage and larval protection. Historically, beeswax has been used by humans as a lubricant, polish, and waterproofing agent.
Propolis, a resinous mixture created by bees from plant resins and waxes, is used to seal and protect the hive from microorganisms. It has been used in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial properties.
Royal jelly, a milky substance secreted by worker bees, is fed to larvae and queen bees. It has also found use in traditional and alternative medicine.
The practice of beekeeping, managing bee colonies in human-made structures, dates back to at least 3,100 BCE in Egypt, with evidence of honey collection from wild bees dating back 6,000 BCE in Spanish cave paintings.