Ten facts about wild bees

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In contrast to honey bees, wild bees are relatively unknown, even though they are just as fascinating. From larva to bee, our native wild bees undergo a spectacular development and fulfill vital tasks for us humans. It is therefore all the worse that wild bees are acutely threatened with extinction. But: Knowledge is power and with the 10 facts about wild bees from Bee friendly you are armed to protect wild bees!

Name Wildbiene
Animal class Insect
Latin name Apidae
Higher classification Hymenoptera
NahrungHigher classification Nectar and pollen
Common species in Germany Horned mason bee, red mason bee, silk bee, bumblebee, blue wood bee

Ten Facts About Wild Bees That You Didn't Know

1. There are over 585 different species of wild bees in Germany: And worldwide, there are even over 30,000 wild bee species! Bees are generally divided into three categories: social bees, solitary bees, and cuckoo bees.

2. Over 50 percent of native wild bee species are endangered: Tragically, about 52 percent of all wild bee species in Germany are either endangered, at risk of extinction, or extremely rare. In fact, 7 percent of wild bee species in Germany have already gone extinct. This worrying development is closely linked to the global insect decline.

3. Honeybees are not wild bees and are not endangered: The Western honeybee is cultivated by humans to produce honey and wax. Researchers believe that humans have been using bees to produce honey since 10,000 BC. Today, beekeepers are the ones who keep honeybees. As long as there are beekeepers, honeybees are not at risk of extinction!

4. The majority of native wild bees are solitary bees and do not live in colonies: Unlike honeybees, most wild bees do not live in collective hives, which is why they are called solitary bees. They lay their eggs in brood cells, where the larvae grow and eventually develop into bees.

5. Some wild bees pollinate up to 5,000 flowers a day: Although wild bees do not produce honey, they are just as diligent – and important – as honeybees: Some wild bee species pollinate up to 5,000 flowers a day and are therefore indispensable in the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

6. Wild bees generally don't sting: Unlike wasps, wild bees rarely sting. The stinger of a wild bee is used solely for defense, not – as with wasps – to paralyze prey. Solitary wild bees will only sting if they are crushed or stepped on – and even then, their sting is far less painful than a wasp sting. Wild bees show no aggression and tend to flee rather than attack.

7. Most commercially available bee hotels are not inhabited: Insect hotels, bee hotels, nesting aids – no matter what they are called, it's clear that there is currently a boom in prefabricated models. Whether in hardware stores, supermarkets, or online, bee hotels are now widely available. Unfortunately, most bee hotels are unsuitable for wild bees because they are made from the wrong materials. With a few simple tricks and the right knowledge about the requirements of bees for proper nesting spaces, you too – whether skilled or not – can build a beautiful nesting aid for wild bees.

 

8. The Poppy Bee decorates its brood cell with poppy flower pieces: Some wild bee species could easily be mistaken for civil engineers, as they use earth, pieces of wood, plant parts, and their own body secretions to build brood cells. The very rare poppy bee takes it a step further by making its brood cell extra cozy, plucking small pieces of poppy petals and using them to wallpaper the interior walls of its brood cells!

9. Some wild bees sleep snuggled in flower petals: There are particularly cuddly wild bee species that spend the night in the flower cups of various flowers, sleeping close together with their fellow bees. The most popular "sleep flowers" in our region are the bellflower, cranesbill, mallow, chicory, thistles, and the snowflake flower.

10. Wild bees spend a year as a larva and only a few weeks as a bee: Most solitary bees spend almost an entire year as a (pupated) larva in their brood cell, and after emerging, they live only a few weeks as bees. During this time, the females take care of the offspring and nest building. Within four to eight weeks, female wild bees build 4–30 brood cells and tend to them until the larvae have everything they need to grow.

(mw)

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