There was once a time when I was terrified when I caught sight of a bee. I was afraid that the bee would land on me and then, suddenly, STING!!!!! Over the years, my fears lessened as I learned more about insects. I now understand that I wasn’t ever actually afraid of bees. I was afraid of wasps and yellowjackets, but at that point, I was unable to differentiate wasps and yellowjackets from bumblebees and honeybees. I have learned that wasps and yellowjackets are actually pollinators and are useful creatures. Yellowjackets, however, seem to consider stinging people to be a competitive sport. Bumblebees, on the other hand, are the panda bears of the bee world They are fat and easy going and, when they get tired, they sleep in flowers. They are absolutely adorable. Unfortunately, bumblebees, which are a native species of bee, are at risk, with some species of bumblebee being on the endangered species list. Dangers to bumblebees include habitat loss, exposure to lawn pesticides, climate change, and disease.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed the bees. In a few days, I will share pictures of butterflies.
