There are three types of bees in the hive. First is the queen, who runs the hive and lays eggs. Second are the workers, all-female and forage for food, protect the hive, and circulate air with their wings. Every honey bee you see outside the hive is a female worker. Lastly, there are drones, which are the male bees. Their only purpose is to mate with the queen.
Fun facts about honey bees:
- Bees have five eyes.
- Honey bees are essential for pollinating flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They transfer pollen between male and female parts of the plant to grow seeds and fruit.
- Honey bees can fly at up to 15 mph and beat their wings 200 times per second.
- A queen can live up to five years and lays up to 2,500 eggs a day in the summer.
Make sure to be friendly to honey bees! They are vital for our ecosystem and only sting if provoked. As long as you don’t bother it, it won’t bother you!
Print out the handout below for a beehive coloring sheet!
Add your own bees to the hive!
