Ants, Bees, & Wasps (Order Hymenoptera)
The order Hymenoptera includes many of the most common insects - ants, bees, and wasps. This is the third largest insect order with just over 100,000 species. These articles cover the behaviors and characteristics of this order, including profiles of Hymenoptera species and families.
A Brief Introduction to All Kinds of Ants
Ants may be the most successful insects on Earth. They've evolved into sophisticated social insects that fill all kinds of unique niches. From thief ants that rob from other colonies to weaver ants that sew homes in the treetops, ants are a diverse insect group. This article will introduce you to all kinds of ants.
10 Fascinating Facts About Ants
The complex, cooperative societies of ants enable them to survive and thrive in conditions that would challenge the individual. Here are 10 fascinating facts about ants that just might convince you they're superior to us.
The complex, cooperative societies of ants enable them to survive and thrive in conditions that would challenge the individual. Here are 10 fascinating facts about ants that just might convince you they're superior to us.
How Can Ants Lift Objects 50 Times Their Body Weight?
Just what makes that little old ant think he can move that rubber tree plant? Everyone knows an ant can't move a rubber tree plant. Or can it?
Just what makes that little old ant think he can move that rubber tree plant? Everyone knows an ant can't move a rubber tree plant. Or can it?
10 Tips to Avoid Bee Stings
Being stung by a bee or wasp is never fun, and for people with bee venom allergies, it can be life-threatening. In most cases, bee stings are entirely avoidable - just don't attract them or put the bees on the defensive. Here's 10 tips to help you avoid bee stings.
Being stung by a bee or wasp is never fun, and for people with bee venom allergies, it can be life-threatening. In most cases, bee stings are entirely avoidable - just don't attract them or put the bees on the defensive. Here's 10 tips to help you avoid bee stings.
Insect Sting Similes - Describe the Most Painful Insect Sting You've …
Bee researcher Justin Schmidt created a scale to rank the painfulness of different bee, wasp, and ant stings. He and his colleagues endured the stings of 78 different Hymenopteran species, from honey bees to bullet ants. Schmidt used some interesting similes to describe the stings. For example, he described the sting of a paper wasp as the equivalent of "spilling a beaker of hydrochloric acid on …
Bee researcher Justin Schmidt created a scale to rank the painfulness of different bee, wasp, and ant stings. He and his colleagues endured the stings of 78 different Hymenopteran species, from honey bees to bullet ants. Schmidt used some interesting similes to describe the stings. For example, he described the sting of a paper wasp as the equivalent of "spilling a beaker of hydrochloric acid on …
Schmidt Pain Index of Insect Stings
Which insect inflicts the most painful sting? In the 1980's, Justin Schmidt and his colleagues decided to answer this question. They subjected themselves to the stings of 78 different Hymenopteran species, recording data on the intensity and duration of their pain.
Schmidt created a 5-point pain scale, numbered from 0 to 4. An insect…
Ants, Family Formicidae
The social ants serve important functions in the ecosystem. Ants aerate and turn the soil, defend plants, pollinate flowers, and disperse seeds. In places where ants exist, they comprise 15-20% of the terrestrial animal biomass. That's a lot of ants.
The social ants serve important functions in the ecosystem. Ants aerate and turn the soil, defend plants, pollinate flowers, and disperse seeds. In places where ants exist, they comprise 15-20% of the terrestrial animal biomass. That's a lot of ants.
Characteristics: Order Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera means “membranous wings.” The third largest group in the class Insecta, this order includes ants, bees, wasps, horntails, and sawflies.
Hymenoptera means “membranous wings.” The third largest group in the class Insecta, this order includes ants, bees, wasps, horntails, and sawflies.
Bumblebees - the Genus Bombus
Bumblebees are certainly familiar insects, but there's probably a lot you don't know about these busy bees. Like honey bees, bumblebees of the genus Bombus live socially, with a queen and workers.
Bumblebees are certainly familiar insects, but there's probably a lot you don't know about these busy bees. Like honey bees, bumblebees of the genus Bombus live socially, with a queen and workers.
The Bumblebee Queen
The bumblebee queen lives just one year, from fall to fall. During that time, she survives the winter cold on her own, incubates and cares for offspring, and insures that her genetic line continues by making new queens to replace her.
The bumblebee queen lives just one year, from fall to fall. During that time, she survives the winter cold on her own, incubates and cares for offspring, and insures that her genetic line continues by making new queens to replace her.
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
The honey bee, Apis mellifera, is one of several species of bees that produce honey. Honey bees live in colonies, or hives, of 50,000 bees on average. A honey bee colony consists of a queen, drones, and workers. All play roles in the survival of the community.
The honey bee, Apis mellifera, is one of several species of bees that produce honey. Honey bees live in colonies, or hives, of 50,000 bees on average. A honey bee colony consists of a queen, drones, and workers. All play roles in the survival of the community.
Honey Bees - Roles Within the Honey Bee Colony
Each member of a honey bee colony has a specific role. All contribute to the survival of the colony. Queen bees lay eggs, drones mate with the queen, and workers take care of the chores.
Each member of a honey bee colony has a specific role. All contribute to the survival of the colony. Queen bees lay eggs, drones mate with the queen, and workers take care of the chores.
Honey Bees - Communication Within the Honey Bee Colony
As social insects living in a colony, honey bees must communicate with one another. Honey bees use movement, odor cues, and even food exchanges to share information.
As social insects living in a colony, honey bees must communicate with one another. Honey bees use movement, odor cues, and even food exchanges to share information.
How Do Bees Make Honey?
Honey bees use their stores of energy-rich honey to get them through lean times, including winter. Worker bees gather nectar from flowers and convert it into enough honey to keep the colony alive. How do bees make honey from nectar?
Honey bees use their stores of energy-rich honey to get them through lean times, including winter. Worker bees gather nectar from flowers and convert it into enough honey to keep the colony alive. How do bees make honey from nectar?
What is Colony Collapse Disorder?
In the fall of 2006, beekeepers began reporting the disappearances of entire colonies of honeybees. Scientists named this phenomenon Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD. What are the signs and symptoms of Colony Collapse Disorder?
In the fall of 2006, beekeepers began reporting the disappearances of entire colonies of honeybees. Scientists named this phenomenon Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD. What are the signs and symptoms of Colony Collapse Disorder?
10 Possible Causes of Colony Collapse Disorder
In the fall of 2006, beekeepers in North America began reporting the disappearances of entire colonies of bees, seemingly overnight. In the U.S. alone, thousands of bee colonies were lost to Colony Collapse Disorder. Theories about the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, emerged almost as quickly as the bees disappeared. No single cause or definitive answer has yet been identified.
In the fall of 2006, beekeepers in North America began reporting the disappearances of entire colonies of bees, seemingly overnight. In the U.S. alone, thousands of bee colonies were lost to Colony Collapse Disorder. Theories about the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, emerged almost as quickly as the bees disappeared. No single cause or definitive answer has yet been identified.