Are honeybees bossy?
Scientists in England watched bees for two years. They found that honeybees often chase other insects away from flowers!
Animal of the week
What did they find?
The scientists watched flowers very closely. They saw honeybees meet other insects, like bumblebees and hoverflies, 300 times. Most of the time, the honeybees won! The other insects flew away.
Hot days, more pushing
On hot days, there was more pushing. Maybe there was less sweet juice, called nectar, to share.
Why do bees visit flowers?
Bees drink nectar. They also collect a yellow dust called pollen. Pollen sticks to their fuzzy bodies and goes with them to the next flower. This helps plants make fruits and seeds!
Bees of Keralam
Keralam has its own honeybees, and tiny stingless bees too. In Malayalam, honey from stingless bees is called cheruthen, which means “small honey”.
How bees make honey
1
Collect
Bees drink sweet nectar from flowers.
2
Carry home
They carry it back to the hive.
3
Fan it
They fan it with their wings until it gets thick.
4
Honey!
They seal it in wax cells to eat later.
Big wordpollen
A yellow dust in flowers. Plants need it to make seeds.
A yellow dust in flowers. Plants need it to make seeds.
Did you know?A honeybee flaps its wings about 200 times every second. That is what makes the buzzing sound!
Think about itWhich of your favorite foods need bees? Think of fruits!