At Stewart Termite & Pest Control we deal with lots of different insects and rodents as we help our customers keep their homes pest free. Each insect or rodent that we deal with has its own unique set of characteristics that make them stand out from other insects and rodents. One insect that has some truly interesting characteristics and behaviors is the bee. Today Stewart Termite & Pest Control is going to educate you about some of the most fascinating information about bees.
Castes of Honey Bees; Queen, Worker & Drone
Let’s start with the way that bees organize themselves. Honey bees live in hives. Another word for a group of bees is a colony. Within the hive the bees are divided into three different categories.
• First let’s talk about the queen bee. There is one queen whose job is to run the entire hive. She lays the eggs that will help their hive continue on to the next generation.
• Then there are the worker bees. The worker bees are in charge of foraging for pollen and nectar so that the hive can eat. They are also in charge of building and protecting the hive. If you see a bee flying around it is most likely a worker bee. All worker bees are female.
• The last type of bee in the colony is the drones. While workers are all female, drone bees are all male. Their entire purpose is the mate with the new queen so that they can keep their colony alive.
How Fast Do Honey Bees Fly?
Honey bees are outstanding at flying. They beat their wings up to 200 times per second. That is some serious wing flapping! They can fly up to 15 miles per hour. Their longevity is also impressive. They can fly for up to 6 miles before needing to stop for a break. This is good news because they have to travel quite a bit to find food for their colony.
How Do Bees Navigate?
Another interesting fact about bees is that they have outstanding navigational skills. They use the sun as their compass. When it is cloudy outside they navigate by polarized light so that they can continue on their way. They are incredibly smart as well. This helps them remember their navigational patterns and routs as they are out foraging for food.
How Long Do Bees Live?
Bees live for varying amounts of time. Worker bees live for about five to six weeks total. In their lifetime they will only product about a twelfth of teaspoon of honey. Queen bees though can live up to five years! Queen bees lay thousands of bees during their lives. It is crazy that there is such a large disparity between their life spans.
Medicinal & Other Uses of Honey
The honey that bees produce has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. People use it to help with sore throats, digestive disorders, and skin problems. It can be used to dress wounds, burns, and cuts as well. If you have allergies taking some local honey each day will help reduce your allergy symptoms.
Stinging Insect Control
As you can see bees have many interesting things that make them very unique insects. If you have more questions about bees or wasps that you need to remove from your property of give Stewart Termite & Pest Control a call today.