Bee

From ArticleWorld

A bee is a type of flying insect, related to wasps and ants, which are specially-adapted with venom-containing stingers that protect it from potential enemies. Bees contain a long proboscis that helps them collect nectar from flowers that is used as energy. They also consume pollen for proteins and other nutrients.

Types

There are over 16,000 species of known bees and likely more than double that exist worldwide. The smallest bees are known as dwarf bees and are only 2.1 mm in length. The largest known bee is the Megachile pluto which is 39 mm long. Bees are generally social insects with varying types of bees within the colony. Queen bees exist for a long time (up to three years) in the colony and are responsible for procreation.

Worker bees have a stinger that is generally used to defend the bee and the colony from other bees but can be used against other animals as well. Worker bees are females that are infertile. Drone bees are male and do not have stingers nor do they forage for nectar or pollen. Their function is that of fertilizing the queen bee.

Communication

Bees use pheromones or odiferous chemicals to communicate almost all aspects of their life. Pheromones are used to communicate alarm, the mating response, the defense response, food production and coordination of colony activities.

Bee stings

The sting of the bee leaves a small amount of venom in its victim. In many individuals, this leads to a “histamine response” and the symptoms include pain, redness and swelling about the site. Some individuals carry an allergic response to being stung by a bee which leads to a systemic reaction. The reaction involves a large amount of histamine being released as well as hypotension and spasm of the bronchial tree in the individual that is often fatal unless epinephrine is administered to reduce the allergic response.