On a hot day in the middle of the summer, bees are buzzing, mosquitoes whining, butterflies flitting, and houseflies and dragonflies darting around.
It’s easy to believe that insects are taking over the world. And, indeed, of all the animal species on Earth, more than eight out of every ten are insects.
Earth’s vast hordes of insects are divided into 31 orders, or categories. Bees (and wasps) are members of Hymenoptera, the fourth largest order—after beetles, flies, and butterflies. About 20,000 species of bees exist around the world.
The many species of bees do more than just buzz around. They make the sweet golden liquid called honey, and they also produce beeswax, which is used in candles, makeup, and other products.
The most important job these insects do is pollinating flowers. Bees carry pollen (the yellow dusty substance from the center of the flower) from one flower to another. That helps in the production of seeds for the flowers, fruits, and vegetables that are grown and enjoyed all over the world.
