Digital Inquiry: Bees

Last updated 7 months ago

1 point

Question 1

Where does Beeswax come from?

Honey

Pollen

a Bee's belly

the Queen bee

1 point

Question 2

Do bees eat honey?

No, bees make honey for humans.

No, bees make honey for bears.

Yes, honey is a bee's winter food.

Yes, bees only eat honey.

1 point

Question 3

About how many eggs a day does the queen lay?

1,000 eggs

2,000 eggs

3,000 eggs

4,000 eggs

1 point

Question 4

Bees are the only insect that create a food that human eat directly.

True

False

Honey Bees: Nature's Tiny Heroes

Honey bees are fascinating insects that play a crucial role in our ecosystem. They are known for their ability to produce honey, but their importance goes far beyond that. Honey bees are essential pollinators, helping plants reproduce by transferring pollen from one flower to another. This process is vital for the growth of fruits, vegetables, and many other crops that we rely on for food.

Honey bees live in well-organized colonies, each with a specific role to ensure the hive's survival. The queen bee is the leader of the colony and is responsible for laying eggs. Worker bees, which are all female, take care of the hive, gather nectar and pollen, and produce honey. Male bees, called drones, have the sole purpose of mating with the queen.

Here are some interesting facts about honey bees:

1) Honey bees have five eyes: They have two large compound eyes and three smaller simple eyes on top of their heads.

2) A single bee can visit up to 5,000 flowers in one day: This makes them incredibly efficient pollinators.

3) Honey bees communicate through dance: They perform a "waggle dance" to inform other bees about the location of food sources.

4) A queen bee can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day: This ensures the colony remains strong and productive.

5) Honey bees have a special stomach for nectar: They store nectar in this stomach and convert it into honey.

6) Bees can recognize human faces: They use their complex vision to remember and recognize different faces.

7) Honey never spoils: Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are still edible.

8) Bees are the only insects that produce food eaten by humans: Honey is a unique product of their hard work.

9) A bee's wings beat 200 times per second: This rapid movement allows them to fly and hover efficiently.

10) Honey bees can travel up to 6 miles in search of food: They are determined and tireless workers.

1 point

Question 5

What is the primary role of worker bees in a honey bee colony?

Gathering nectar and pollen

Laying eggs

Mating with the queen

Protecting the hive

1 point

Question 6

How do honey bees communicate the location of food sources to other bees?

By changing colors

By making a special sound

Through a waggle dance

By buzzing loudly

1 point

Question 7

How many eggs can a queen bee lay in one day?

500

1,000

2,000

3,000

1 point

Question 8

What unique ability do honey bees have regarding human faces?

They can speak human languages

They can recognize human faces

They can mimic human expressions

They can change their appearance

1 point

Question 9

How far can honey bees travel in search of food?

1 mile

3 miles

6 miles

10 miles

TEXT: BEEKEEPING

People love honey, but it is hard to find a natural bee hive. So, beekeepers set up places for 
bees to live and make honey.  Here’s how it is done.

Bees need carbohydrates from flower nectar and protein from pollen to grow and reproduce. They need a place to store their food and grow new bees. This is done in wooden brood boxes with trays where the bees can build honey combs.

Boxes are set up on stands to keep them dry and keep pests away. Bees need two boxes to provide enough space for their own honey and pollen stores and for the queen to lay eggs for the next generation.

After the bees have nearly filled their own brood boxes, keepers add smaller boxes on top. These are called honey supers. Because bees really are busy, they can produce much more honey than they can eat. This extra honey can be harvested by keepers. Bees get a safe, clean place to grow and we get honey.

1 point

Question 10

10.

Why do beekeepers set up places for bees to live and make honey?

To keep bees as pets

To teach bees how to make honey

Because natural bee hives are hard to find

To protect bees from predators

1 point

Question 11

11.

What do bees need from flower nectar and pollen?

Fiber and fat

Water and sugar

Carbohydrates and protein

Vitamins and minerals

1 point

Question 12

12.

What are honey supers used for?

To store food for the bees

To harvest extra honey produced by the bees

To keep the hive dry and pest-free

To provide space for the queen to lay eggs

VIDEO: WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ALL THE BEES?

Click the link to watch a video about the decline in bee population.

1 point

Question 13

13.

What is the primary role of bees in our ecosystem?

Building hives

Producing honey

Protecting flowers

Pollinating plants

1 point

Question 14

14.

What is one of the main reasons for the decline in bee populations?

Climate change

Overproduction of honey

Lack of flowers

Pesticides

1 point

Question 15

15.

How does the decline in bee populations affect human food supply?

It makes flowers bloom more frequently

It has no impact on human food supply

It reduces the variety of fruits and vegetables

It increases the amount of honey available

1 point

Question 16

16.

What can people do to help protect bee populations?

Harvest more honey

Capture wild bees and keep them as pets

Plant more flowers and reduce pesticide use

Use more pesticides

3 points

Question 17

17.

Honeybees are flying ____________that help to ______________ flowers and crops. Flowers and bees are two ___________ things that work together during pollination.