All in the Apidae family
November 18, 2009 7:50 PM Subscribe
The Apidae family of bees includes a large variety species with interesting traits. Bees in Apidae are all long tongued bees. Not all have scopa. Those without a scopa cannot collect pollen and are cleptoparasitic. Some are solitary. Some are colonial. Some are burrowers. Most are not. Most collect pollen and nectar. Some do not and yet still produce honey.
The Apidae family is mostly known for honey bees, carpenter bees, orchid bees, cuckoo bees, and bumble bees. Some of the Apidae family members you may not be familiar with are the Amegilla bees and the stingless bees which include the Carrion bee.
The Amegilla bees are burrowers. The males are known to fight each other to the death en masse when the females emerge from their burrows.
The stingless bees are cultured for honey just like European honey bee. While their methods for defending the hive differ, they are still effective.
Carrion bees are also called Vulture bees. There are only three known species. Carrion bees are the only bees that feed on meat instead of pollen and nectar.
The Apidae family is mostly known for honey bees, carpenter bees, orchid bees, cuckoo bees, and bumble bees. Some of the Apidae family members you may not be familiar with are the Amegilla bees and the stingless bees which include the Carrion bee.
The Amegilla bees are burrowers. The males are known to fight each other to the death en masse when the females emerge from their burrows.
The stingless bees are cultured for honey just like European honey bee. While their methods for defending the hive differ, they are still effective.
Carrion bees are also called Vulture bees. There are only three known species. Carrion bees are the only bees that feed on meat instead of pollen and nectar.
Yay bees! Cool post, thanks.
posted by doctor_negative at 9:12 PM on November 18, 2009
posted by doctor_negative at 9:12 PM on November 18, 2009
Whoa! NEATO! I wish I needed a new internet name because melipona (the stingless bee link) would SO be it!
posted by susanbeeswax at 10:45 PM on November 18, 2009
posted by susanbeeswax at 10:45 PM on November 18, 2009
My favorite sort of bee is probably the Green Virescent Metallic Bee.
posted by oonh at 1:24 AM on November 19, 2009
posted by oonh at 1:24 AM on November 19, 2009
The Green Virescent Metallic Bee is beautiful. It is in the Halictidae family; not Apidae. So, it is a type of sweat bee.
posted by onhazier at 6:02 AM on November 19, 2009
posted by onhazier at 6:02 AM on November 19, 2009
great post! been fascinated with stingless bees of central america, of late. all hail xunan cab!
posted by lapolla at 6:18 AM on November 19, 2009
posted by lapolla at 6:18 AM on November 19, 2009
Tired of clover and wildflower. I'm wondering how a taste comparison of toad egg against lizard honey would turn out.
posted by Stig at 6:55 AM on November 19, 2009
posted by Stig at 6:55 AM on November 19, 2009
« Older Drag and Tock | HET Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Bees are completely awesome. Here are some more fun and interesting facts about bees.
I just love bees.
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!
posted by turgid dahlia at 8:37 PM on November 18, 2009