#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

61.

Bumblebees groom themselves frequently.

They groom pollen which has attached to the hairs on their bodies into their pollen baskets.

Grooming also helps to dislodge mites, other parasites and dirt, maintaining bee health.
#bees
#bumblebees

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

60.

Larger female bumblebee workers are better at all tasks so why then are there small workers?
Small workers are vital as they are more resilient to starvation: a colony insurance policy of sorts in case of nectar shortage.
#bees #bumblebees
#nature

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

59.

Large female worker #bumblebees are better at foraging so smaller female workers tend to concentrate on in-nest jobs such as nursing and incubating.
Are they better at these tasks?
No - the larger #bees can be better here too!
#nature #environment

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

58.

When it comes to foraging, larger female #bumblebee workers are better than their smaller sisters.
They return more #nectar, fly at lower temperatures, can probe deeper #flowers and may be less likely to be preyed upon.

#bees #nature #science

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

57.

In some bumblebee species female workers can be up to ten times larger, in terms of their mass, compared to other sibling workers from the same nest.
Larger workers are usually assigned the task of foraging.
#bumblebees
#bees
#nature
#education

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

56.

Bumblebees need to keep their eggs/larvae at an optimum temperature of between 86-90°F (30-32°C).
In very hot weather the female workers and queen will position themselves at the nest entrance and ‘fan’ the nest with their wings.
#bees
#nature

#theBeeAt3

Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

55.

Bee brains are smaller than a sesame seed and have less than 1 million neurons (we have 86 billion).
They are however highly intelligent - can add/subtract, get the concept of zero, solve puzzles and recognise faces!
#bees
#bumblebees
#nature

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

54.

Solitary Bee stings tend not to be as strong as those of larger social bees.

Having no large nests to defend these bees only need enough ‘sting’ to fend off the odd rival or an attack by other insects.

Only female #bees sting.

#nature #insects

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

53.

On returning to the nest foraging #bumblebees fly back and forth fanning their wings secreting a pheromone which encourages other workers to go foraging on flowers with the same scent as the returning bee.
Scentsational #bees!

#nature #science

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

52.

Bumblebees have hearts but they are not ❤️ shaped.
Bee hearts are straw shaped organs and run the entire length of the body.

#bees
#nature
#biodiversity
#bumblebees

#theBeeAt3

Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

51.

Bumblebee queens sit on their eggs to keep them warm.

To generate the body heat needed for this they will make up to 6000 flower visits per day to collect nectar.

#bees
#bumblebees
#nature #science
#worldbeesanctuary
#insects #dandelions

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

50.

Bees don’t have lungs (or a nose!).
Air enters the bee body through external openings along the body called spiracles.
They rely upon a simple gas exchange system that bathes the body in oxygen and expels carbon dioxide as waste.

#bees
#nature

#theBeeAt3

Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

49.

One of the ways in which bumblebee queens maintain their dominance in the nest is by periodically head-butting the more dominant female workers.

We’re not so different!

#bees
#bumblebees #nature
#worldbeesanctuary
#insects #education

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

48.

Development from egg to adult bumblebee can take anywhere from 20 to 35 days depending on species and conditions.
Half this time is spent as a larva feeding and half as a pupa in a cocoon.

#bees
#bumblebees
#nature
#science
#education
#wildlife

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

47.

The first brood of female worker bumblebees produced in spring are often quite small in size as they rely solely on the queen for food whilst developing.
Subsequent broods are nursed by a support network of workers.
#bees
#bumblebees
#nature

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

46.

Unlike male bumblebees female bumblebees develop from fertilised eggs.
Early in the life of the nest the females produced are workers.
It is only later in the summer that new queens are produced.
#bees #bumblebees
#nature #biodiversity
#insects

#theBeeAt3

Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

45.

Male bumblebees develop from unfertilised eggs.
They have no father.
So 100% of their genes will be in common with their mother, the queen.
They also have no stinger!
#bees #biodiversity
#nature #environment
#bumblebees
#worldbeesanctuary

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

44.

For most species of bumblebee the queens will usually only mate with one male.
Most males never actually get to mate successfully but if given the chance will indeed mate with more than one queen!
#bees
#nature
#bumblebees
#worldbeesanctuary

#theBeeAt3

Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

43.

Bumblebees have antennae cleaners!

Two comb edged notches on their front legs.

Insert the antenna.
Bend the leg to close.
Pull antenna through.
Catch dirt and pollen.
Engineered by #nature.
No apps/AI required.
#bees #bumblebees
#education

#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

42.

Male bumblebees have one more segment to their antennae than female bumblebees.
Male antennae are comprised of 13 segments, females have 12.
#bees
#biodiversity
#nature #environment
#bumblebees #science
#education #worldbeesanctuary
🌍🐝