The best known bees are the honey bees, responsible for producing the honey we know. However, there are about 4,000 types of bees distributed throughout the world. The role of bees is very important, as they are responsible for the pollination of thousands of plant species. Thanks to this process, plants are able to reproduce and survive, hence the importance of bees.
Are you able to identify different species of bees? On our site, we have prepared this complete guide with its classification and main features. Keep reading!
How many types of bees are there?
Bees are insects belonging to the Apoidea superfamily. They feed on the nectar of flowers and most species have a Eurosocial organization: the hives are made up of a queen bee, hundreds of worker bees and some drones males.
Life cycle of bees
Bees go through four stages during their growth: egg, larva, pupa, and adult Fertilized eggs develop into worker females, while that unfertilized eggs are male. In this way, in the hives the sex of the individuals close to birth is “decided”. The sperm necessary for this is kept by the queen, who is able to keep in her body the amount required to maintain the colony throughout her life.
But do you know how a bee becomes a queen? We explain it in detail in this other article on our site on How does a bee become a queen?
Taxonomic classification of bees
The taxonomic classification of bees is divided as follows:
Superfamily: Apoidea
Families
- Andrenidae
- Apidae
- Colletidae
- Halictidae
- Megachilidae
- Melittidae
- Stenotritidae
Each of these families has, in turn, various subfamilies, tribes, genera and species. Next, we will see the types of bees by families.
Types of bees in the Andrenidae family
The family Andrenidae contains four subfamilies:
- Alocandreninae
- Andreninae
- Panurginae
- Oxaeinae
Characteristics of Andrenidae bees
The main characteristics of this type of bee are:
- They have solitary habits.
- They can be found all over the world, except Australia.
- They have two sub-antennas surrounding the main antennas.
- They usually build their panels after drilling holes in the ground.
- They feed on the nectar of specific flowers.
Andrenidae bee species
Some of the most representative types of bees of this family are:
- Mesoxaea tachytiformis
- Alloxaea brevipalpis
- Protoxaea australis
- Notoxaea ferruginea
- Oxaea schwarzi
Types of bees of the family Apidae
The Apidae is made up of three subfamilies of bees:
- Nomadinae
- Xylocopinae
- Apinae
Characteristics of Apidae bees
This family includes a great variety of species with diverse characteristics. These different life forms generate various dynamics in the honeycombs:
- Some form eurosociedades.
- Others have solitary habits.
- Some bees only parasitize the nests of other species.
- In some colonies there are more than two females that perform the same functions.
- They nest on the ground or on tree trunks.
- In cities it is common to see honeycombs built on walls or on electric poles.
Species of bees of the family Apidae
Some species of this family are:
- Thyreus albomaculatus
- Brachynomada cearensis
- Brachynomada chacoensis
- Ceratina acantha
- Ceratina allodapoides
Discover in this other article on our site How do bees communicate?
Types of bees in the family Colletidae
The bee family Colletidae includes the subfamilies:
- Diphaglossinae
- Euryglossinae
- Hylaeinae
- Xeromelissinae
Characteristics of Colletidae bees
Some of the main characteristics of this type of bee are:
- Bees in this group are solitary.
- Build honeycombs on the ground or trees.
- The species of this family inhabit the entire southern hemisphere, including Australia.
- They cover the inside of the combs with a secretion from the Dufour gland, located in the abdomen. This secretion becomes transparent and impermeable on contact with oxygen.
Colletidae bee species
Some bees that belong to this family are:
- Colletes albohirtus
- Colletes albomaculatu
- Hylaeus adriaticus
- Andean Cadegualina
- Cadegualina sericata
Types of bees of the family Halictidae
Other types of bees are those belonging to the family Halictidae, which includes the following subfamilies:
- Halictinae
- Nomiinae
- Nomioidinae
- Rophitinae
Characteristics of Halictidae bees
These bees present diverse social organizations, as well as other curious characteristics:
- Some are lonely.
- Others are parasocial, that is, colonies include bees from a single generation.
- Others are Eurosocial at a primitive level, that is, the difference in size between queen and worker is not noticeable, there is a division of labor.
- They lick their sweat during the summer, which is why they are called “sweat bees”.
- They nest on the ground and in trees.
- The body has various colors: yellow, black, blue and green.
Halictidae bee species
Among the types of bees that belong to this family are:
- Ceylalictus celebensis
- Ceylalictus cereus
- Morawitzella nana
- Ceratalictus ischnotes
- Ceratalictus psoraspis
On the other hand, did you know that bees are not the only pollinating animals? Discover these other 15 pollinating animals - Characteristics and examples.
Types of bees of the family Megachilidae
The family Megachilidae includes two subfamilies:
- Fideliinae
- Megachilinae
Characteristics of bees Megachilidae
Among the main characteristics of this type of bee, the following stand out:
- They are usually lonely.
- Some species have the habit of two queens sharing the same comb, although each one takes care of everything necessary to condition her cell
- Some species parasitize colonies.
- They build their colonies with dry leaves and resins they extract from plants.
Megachilidae bee species
Some bees that are part of this family are:
- Fidelia hessei
- Fidelia kobrowi
- Pararhophites orobinus
- Pararhophites quadratus
- Radoszkowskiana gusevi
Types of bees of the family Melittidae
The family Melittidae includes the subfamilies:
- Dasypodainae
- Meganomiinae
- Melittinae
Characteristics of Melittidae bees
The main characteristics of this type of bee are:
- They nest on the ground, where they dig holes in the ground.
- Most Melittidae bee species are found in Africa, Europe, and Asia, as well as parts of North America. In contrast, there are no species in southern America or Australia.
- They are oligolectic, that is, they only collect pollen from a certain number of plant species.
Melittidae bee species
Among the species that form part of this family it is possible to mention:
- Meganomia andersoni
- Meganomia binghami
- Dasypoda albipila
- Dasypoda argentata
- Afrodasypoda plumipes
Types of bees of the Stenotritidae family
The family Stenotritidae is the smallest of all bee groups and includes the following genera:
- Ctenocolletes
- Stenotritus
Characteristics of bees Stenotritidae
The most striking features of these bees are:
- Bees of this family are found in Australia.
- They are distinguished by their robust bodies covered with villi.
- They nest on the ground.
- They are distinguished by a fast flight.
- Like the bees of the Colletidae family, they cover the cells of the combs with a waterproof secretion.
Bee species Stenotritidae
Some of the types of bees that belong to this family are:
- Ctenocolletes albomarginatus
- Ctenocolletes centralis
- Ctenocolletes fulvescens
- Stenotritus elegans
- Stenotritus elegantior
Now that you know the types of bees that exist, you may also be interested in this other article on our site about Types of wasps.
