John,

If I say the word "bee," you might imagine a honeybee. But these fuzzy yellow creatures make up a tiny fraction of the more than 20,000 bee species around the world.1

Bees can be as big as your thumb, or smaller than a grain of rice.2

The dazzling variety of bee species is a testament to nature's wondrous ability to adapt and change. Here are three of our favorite bee species, from the weird to the wonderful.

One of the most exciting things about bees is that we're still discovering new ones. This year, scientists identified the blue handstanding bee in Oklahoma and Texas.

The bee is best known for -- you guessed it -- standing on its head as it searches for pollen. Scientists report that the bee is especially fond of tomato plants -- good news for gardeners.3

Unlike honeybees, mason bees are a solitary species, which means they don't live in hives or have queens. Instead, they often excavate private holes in the ground.

Mason bees are among the most common of all wild bees. Native to North America, they can pollinate up to a hundred times as many plants as a honeybee. They do this by coating their entire body in pollen, as you can see in the picture of the dusty mason bee above.4

The Texan sweat bees get their name from their unusual taste in food. They love human sweat, and will often land on people to harmlessly lap up the salty droplets.

Sweat bees are also cunning. Like cuckoo birds, they lay their eggs in the hives of other bees, who then mistake the offspring for their own.5 That might not win the sweat bee any friends, but the animal kingdom wouldn't be complete without a few scoundrels.

Every species of bee is valuable, with its own role to play in our ecosystem.

That's why our staff and supporters are working together to educate the public, promote bee-friendly habitat and limit the use of bee-killing pesticides. We're grateful for your continued support.

Thanks,

Ellen Montgomery

P.S. You can amplify your support of our work to protect the bees with a donation. Will you donate?

1. "How many species of native bees are in the United States?" United States Geological Survey, last accessed November 29, 2024.
2. "How many species of native bees are in the United States?" United States Geological Survey, last accessed November 29, 2024.
3. Josh DeLozier, "Buzzworthy Breakthrough: New Bee Species Discovered in Oklahoma and Texas," University of Oklahoma, November 12, 2024.
4. "Mason Bee," Encyclopedia Britannica, last accessed November 25, 2024.
5. "Sweat Bees," Texas Apiary Inspection Service, last accessed November 25, 2024.

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