Have you ever heard someone mention that bees are accountable for approximately one-third of the food you consume? While it’s impossible to determine the exact number, it’s evident that bees play a crucial role in food production as exceptional pollinators!

Most food crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, rely on the process of pollination. This process involves transferring small pollen cells between plants to aid in seed production.

How does pollination occur? Primarily, insects are responsible for this task. Among all the insects that assist in pollinating plants and flowers, bees are significantly more important. Bees spend most of their lives collecting pollen, which serves as a primary source of protein for their young.

When bees land on flowers, the hairs on their legs attract pollen cells through a force similar to static electricity. Bees store some of this pollen to bring back to their nests, while the remaining bits are left on other flowers, thus completing the pollination process.

Flowers also reward bees for their hard work by producing sweet nectar, which provides the necessary nutrients for bees to sustain their busy lives. You may have heard the phrase “busy bee” before, and it holds true when considering the important role they play in the growth of flowers and crops.

How many flowers can a bee pollinate in a single day? Approximately 5,000! If you find this astounding, consider the fact that a hive of bees must travel over 55,000 miles and visit two million flowers to produce just one pound of honey!

Undoubtedly, bees are incredibly industrious. However, they face numerous threats to their survival today. Imagine a world without these hard-working, furry insects. It’s something we would rather not contemplate!

Try It Out

To maximize your enjoyment of today’s Wonder of the Day (pun intended), try one or more of the following activities with a friend or family member:

Pollinators and Their Challenges

Are you up for a challenge? Were you aware that certain insects are currently facing numerous threats that could potentially reduce the number of pollinators available for flowers and crops? This, in turn, could have a significant impact on the global food supply. To learn more about this issue, you can explore online resources. What do you believe can be done to address this situation? Conduct some independent research on the Internet to discover any articles that discuss ongoing efforts to support wild bee populations. Once you find relevant information, share your findings with your friends and family members.

Busy Bees in Slow Motion

Bees are undoubtedly busy creatures, aren’t they? That’s probably why the phrase “busy bee” exists. If you’ve ever observed a bee in its natural habitat, darting from one flower to another, you’ve likely noticed how challenging it can be to keep up with its movements. Take a moment to slow things down and watch this captivating video of a bee in ultra slow motion. It’s absolutely fascinating!

Identifying Pollinators in Your Area

Which insects play a crucial role in pollination in your local area? Do you frequently see honey bees or are butterflies the primary pollinators? Spend some time outdoors and observe the pollinators in action. Afterwards, seek assistance from an adult family member to learn more about them. You can search for information online or consult with an expert such as a farmer or gardener. You might be surprised by how much you can discover about the pollinators in your region!

Recommended Sources

• Source 1: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/bees.shtml (accessed 11 Feb. 2021)
• Source 2: https://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/ahb/inf10.html (accessed 11 Feb. 2021)
• Source 3: https://beehealth.bayer.us/learn-about-pollinator-health/pollinators-101/bee-facts (accessed 11 Feb. 2021)