Contents
Key Stage 1
Meaning
A bee is a small animal that can fly, makes honey, and helps plants grow by moving pollen.
About Bee
- Bees have fur called setae.
- Most bees come out during the day, making them diurnal.
- A known fact about bees is that they live in groups called colonies.
Key Stage 2
Meaning
A bee is an insect that is herbivorous, feeding mainly on nectar and pollen.
About Bee
- Bees play a crucial role in pollination, helping plants reproduce.
- Bees are covered in setae, which helps them collect pollen.
- Bees are diurnal, active during the day.
- It's commonly known that bees communicate through dances.
- Bees have a backbone.
- Bees rear their young in wax structures called honeycombs.
- Bees are found in various habitats across the world except for the coldest areas.
- Their common microhabitats include nests in trees, ground burrows, and man-made beehives.
- The name of bee young is larvae or brood.
Adaptations of the Bee
- Bees have developed wings for flying, which allows them to move efficiently from flower to flower for pollination.
- Their bodies are adapted to collect pollen, thanks to their setae.
- The proboscis of a bee is adapted for extracting nectar from flowers.
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A bee is an insectivorous insect, belonging to various species within the superfamily Apoidea, crucial for pollination.
About Bee
- Bees are integral to their ecosystems for pollination.
- They have setae.
- Bees are diurnal.
- They are invertebrates.
- As pollinators, bees are prey to various birds and insects but also serve as key pollinators.
- Their habitats range from forests and meadows to urban gardens.
- Common microhabitats include underground burrows and hollow trees.
- Bees are mostly oviparous, laying eggs.
- Bees are ectothermic, depending on environmental temperatures.
- They live in colonies.
- The group noun for bees is a swarm or colony.
Adaptations of the Bee
- The proboscis of a bee is specially adapted for feeding on nectar.
- Bees have a complex communication system involving dances, which is key for pollination success.
- Camouflage and mimicry help some bees avoid predators.
- Other adaptations include storage of pollen in special pollen baskets on their legs.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A bee is a pollinivorous, invertebrate insect, key to the pollination process, belonging to the class Insecta.
About Bee
- Bees contribute significantly to their habitats and ecosystems through pollination.
- They possess setae.
- Bees are invertebrates.
- They feed their offspring with pollen and nectar.
- Most are oviparous.
- Bees regulate their hive temperature actively, behaving as homeotherms within their managed environment.
Adaptations of the Bee
- Bees exhibit complex behavioural adaptations for pollination, including flower colour recognition and spatial navigation.
- Their venom serves as a defence mechanism.
Key Stage 5
Meaning
The bee, categorized under Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda, Class Insecta, Order Hymenoptera, Family Apidae, plays a pivotal role in pollination, critical for ecosystem diversity and agricultural productivity.
About Bee
- The bee respiratory system involves spiracles and tracheae for efficient gas exchange.
- Its digestive system is specialized to process nectar and pollen, with a crop for temporary storage and a proventriculus for filtering pollen.
- The bee nervous system is sophisticated, enabling complex behaviours like navigation, learning, and communication through the "waggle dance."