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A bumblebee (or bumble bee) is any member of the bee genus Bombus, in the family Apidae. Pictured here are the various legs of the bees.

Legs of the Humble Bee

A bumblebee (or bumble bee) is any member of the bee genus Bombus, in the family Apidae. Pictured here…

Fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera) is a plant of the family Orchidaceae, a native of the British Isles and Europe favouring sites with alkaline soil. The name arises because it resembles a fly, being totally dependent on flies and bees for pollination. However this is fairly unsuccessful as they seldom visit the flower and it forms seed only infrequently. The plants use scent to attract male flies, which pollinate the flowers as they attempt to mate with the flower. The scent released by the flowers mimic female fly sexual pheromones.

Fly Orchid

Fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera) is a plant of the family Orchidaceae, a native of the British Isles…

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants. Honey bees (or honeybees) are a subset of bees, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of perennial, colonial nests out of wax. A colony generally contains one queen bee, a fertile female; seasonally up to a few thousand drone bees or fertile males; and a large seasonally variable population of sterile female worker bees. Eggs are laid singly in a cell in a wax honeycomb, produced and shaped by the worker bees. Larvae are initially fed with royal jelly produced by worker bees, later switching to honey and pollen.

Honey Bees

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants. Honey bees (or honeybees) are a subset of…

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants. Honey bees (or honeybees) are a subset of bees, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of perennial, colonial nests out of wax. A colony generally contains one queen bee, a fertile female; seasonally up to a few thousand drone bees or fertile males; and a large seasonally variable population of sterile female worker bees. Eggs are laid singly in a cell in a wax honeycomb, produced and shaped by the worker bees. Larvae are initially fed with royal jelly produced by worker bees, later switching to honey and pollen.

Honey Bees

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants. Honey bees (or honeybees) are a subset of…

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants. Honey bees (or honeybees) are a subset of bees, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of perennial, colonial nests out of wax. A colony generally contains one queen bee, a fertile female; seasonally up to a few thousand drone bees or fertile males; and a large seasonally variable population of sterile female worker bees. Workers gather pollen into the pollen baskets on their back legs, to carry back to the hive where it is used as food for the developing brood.

Honey Bees

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants. Honey bees (or honeybees) are a subset of…

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants. Honey bees (or honeybees) are a subset of bees, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of perennial, colonial nests out of wax. A colony generally contains one queen bee, a fertile female; seasonally up to a few thousand drone bees or fertile males; and a large seasonally variable population of sterile female worker bees. A honeycomb is a mass of hexagonal wax cells built by honey bees in their nests to contain their larvae and stores of honey and pollen.

Honey Bees

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants. Honey bees (or honeybees) are a subset of…

Carpenter bees are large, hairy bees distributed worldwide. Their name comes from the fact that nearly all species build their nests in burrows in dead wood, bamboo, or structural timbers. In several species, the females live in tunnels alongside their own daughters or sisters, creating a sort of social group. They use wood bits to form partitions between the cells in the nest. A few species bore holes in wood dwellings. Since the tunnels are near the surface, structural damage is generally minor or nonexistent.

Carpenter Bee

Carpenter bees are large, hairy bees distributed worldwide. Their name comes from the fact that nearly…

Mining bees, or digger bees, (familys Andrenidae & Anthophoridae) nest in burrows in the ground. Each mining bee female usually digs her own individual burrow to rear her own young. Large numbers of these bees may nest near one another if soil conditions are suitable.

Mining Bee

Mining bees, or digger bees, (familys Andrenidae & Anthophoridae) nest in burrows in the ground. Each…

Ichneumon flies are solitary insects, and most are parasitoids—the larvae feeding on or in another insect which finally dies. As with all hymenopterans, ichneumons are closely related to ants and bees. The female finds a host and lays an egg on, near, or inside the host's body. Upon hatching, the larval ichneumon feeds either externally or internally, killing the host when they themselves are ready to pupate. The large ichneumon fly (Thakessa), with long flexable ovipositor. The various parts of ths ovipositor are spread aapart in the figure; naturally they lie together to form a single piercing organ.

Ichneumon Fly

Ichneumon flies are solitary insects, and most are parasitoids—the larvae feeding on or in another…

Ichneumon flies are solitary insects, and most are parasitoids—the larvae feeding on or in another insect which finally dies. As with all hymenopterans, ichneumons are closely related to ants and bees. The female finds a host and lays an egg on, near, or inside the host's body. Upon hatching, the larval ichneumon feeds either externally or internally, killing the host when they themselves are ready to pupate. The large ichneumon fly (Thakessa), with long flexable ovipositor, boring to deposit eggs.

Ichneumon Fly

Ichneumon flies are solitary insects, and most are parasitoids—the larvae feeding on or in another…

"This foolish, wayward youth, on mischief bent, / Disturbs a hive - this fun, he'll soon repent; / The bees fly quickly out, they sting him sore, / He wisdom learns, and touches bees no more. / The other boy, at a safe distance, more wise, / Sees trouble brewing - from the spot he flies."—Barber, 1857

Experience Teaches

"This foolish, wayward youth, on mischief bent, / Disturbs a hive - this fun, he'll soon repent; / The…

After the queen bee is impregnated, the drones are killed by the workers.

Honey Bees

After the queen bee is impregnated, the drones are killed by the workers.

Humble bees sometimes damage beans and cultivated flowers. Some plants depend on the humble bee for fertilization, such as red clover.

Humble Bee

Humble bees sometimes damage beans and cultivated flowers. Some plants depend on the humble bee for…

Gall-fly is a name applied to the members of the family Cynipidae, which are not flies, but are related to ants and bees (order Hymenoptera).

Gall-fly

Gall-fly is a name applied to the members of the family Cynipidae, which are not flies, but are related…