The garden bumble bee (Bombus hortorum) is a relatively large bumble bee common in Europe. Queens, drones, and workers look similar featuring the same color pattern. They are identified by their white tail, three yellow bands, and long, thin face. The garden bumble bee looks very similar to thee other types of bumblebee. They are…
What is Melipona Honey? Melipona honey is produced exclusively by a species of stingless bees (Melipona beecheii). These bees are native to Central and South America. They gather nectar from specific plants, resulting in honey with a distinct taste, color, and nutritional profile. It is generally darker in color than traditional honey and has an…
The use of Melipona bees in Mesoamerica dates back to the pre-Columbian era. These highly valued stingless bees were used for their honey and wax, which was used for a variety of purposes. The Mesoamerican culture highly valued Honey and cerumen (wax) and used them as a method of exchange for other goods, as well…
Stingless bees (‘meliponines’) make up around 500 species worldwide. They are closely related to common honey bees, carpenter bees, orchid bees, and bumblebees. Despite their unique and fascinating features, they often get overlooked. Highly regarded and sacred in many cultures, they also play an important role in ecology. Unlike their more common counterparts, stingless…
Do you know the differences of honeybees vs. bumblebees? Honey bees and bumble bees may look similar but they are actually quite different. While both insects play important roles in pollination, their nesting habits and physical features help to distinguish between the two types of bee. Learn more about these creatures’ habits and lifecycles to…
The Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum), is a species native to the European continent and parts of Asia. Some also refer to it as the also known as the new garden bumblebee. It was first seen in 2001 in the United Kingdom and in 2008 in Iceland. These little bumblebees are around 0.4-0.6 in (1-1.6 cm)…
The buff-tailed bumblebee, also known as Bombus terrestis, belongs to the Apidae family. These fluffy little creatures thrive in temperate climates but can survive in all climates. They are common across Europe and Asia, parts of North Africa and the Middle East, as well as some parts of North America. This species is particularly common…
It can be tricky identifying bumblebees given that there are over 250 species of them across the world and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Fortunately, with the right information and some practice, it is possible to learn how to quickly identify them. In this guide, we cover the different colors,…
Just as humans have different nationalities and cultures in humans, there are also different varieties of bees! The most well known are probably the honeybee and the bumblebee. Some live in colonies, whilst others live solitary lives. Bees can be found anywhere on this planet except for in Antarctica because they need flowers to survive….