From biological diversity to specifics; bees and their importance to human and the environment.
Bees are some of the hardest working creatures on the planet, and because of their laborious work ethic, we owe many thanks to this amazing yet often underappreciated insect.
Our lives – and the world as a whole – would be a much different place if bees didn’t exist. To illustrate this fact, consider these numbers: bees are responsible for pollinating about one-sixth of the flowering plant species worldwide and approximately 400 different agricultural types of plant.
Worldwide, there are around 25,000 different types of bee species. This huge number is divided into over 4,000 genera of bees, which are then further subdivided into just nine families of bees. The Apidae family is perhaps the most well-known family, with familiar members such as the honeybee, carpenter bee, and bumblebee.
All of these species dutifully serve as pollinators of our agricultural world. And they are all excellent at what they do. This helps to better disperse pollen amongst the flowers and fruits it visits.
What is pollination? Simply put, it is the transfer of pollen from the male part of the flower, the anther, to the stigma, which is the female part of the flower. Upon the two’s meeting, a plant’s seed, nut, or fruit is then formed.
Some plants rely on animals to assist with their pollination process, while others can pollinate themselves or rely on the wind to do it for them.

• GENERALLY, insects such as bees and wasps aren’t aggressive and only sting in self-defence.

Bees also tend to focus their energies on one species of plant at a time. By visiting the same flowers of a particular species in one outing, much higher quality pollination occurs – rather than spreading many different types of pollen to different plants which are not being pollinated, all plants of one species are getting an even distribution of vital pollen from others of its same species.
Pollination is essentially plant reproduction. Without help from animal pollinators, our everyday food supply would look much different – at least one third of our staples we’ve come to rely on would no longer be available.
A few examples of the foods that would no longer be available to us if bees ceased pollinating our agricultural goods are: broccoli, asparagus, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelons, almonds, apples, and cherries.
Honey is a food product created by bees and is not to be forgotten. Made by bees regurgitating nectar and passing it back and forth in their mouths to one another before depositing and sealing it in a honeycomb, its intended use is for the bees’.
Pollinating flowers and contributing to the beautification of the planet’s floral landscapes may be the bees’ perhaps simplest and least economically important actions, but it’s certainly its most aesthetically pleasing one.
By keeping flowers pollinated, bees perpetuate floral growth and provide attractive habitats for other animals such as insects and birds.
These humble, buzzing bugs deserve huge thanks – for helping provide us with our favorite fruits and vegetables, their delicious honey, and beautiful, flowery gardens.
Bees as well can harm human or any other animals that annoy them.  Bee stings can produce different reactions, ranging from temporal pain and discomfort to a severe allergic reaction. Having one type of reaction doesn’t mean you’ll always have the same reaction every time you’re stung.
Most of the time, bee sting symptoms are minor and include:Instant, sharp burning pain at the sting site; A red welt at the sting area, small, white spot where the stinger punctured the skin and slight swelling around the sting area
In most people, swelling and pain go away within a few hours.Some people who get stung by a bee or other insect have a bit stronger reaction, with signs and symptoms such as:
Extreme redness
Swelling at the site of the sting that gradually enlarges over the next day or two.
Moderate reactions tend to resolve over five to 10 days.
Having a moderate reaction doesn’t mean you’ll have a severe allergic reaction the next time you’re stung.
But some people develop similar moderate reactions each time they’re stung.
If this happens to you, talk to your doctor about treatment and prevention, especially if the reaction becomes more severe each time.
A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to bee stings is potentially life-threatening and requires emergency treatment.
A small percentage of people who are stung by a bee or other insect quickly develop anaphylaxis. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
Skin reactions, including hives and itching and flushed or pale skin; difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat and tongue, a weak, rapid pulse
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Dizziness or fainting.
They also include loss of consciousness.
People who have a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting have a 30 to 60 percent chance of anaphylaxis the next time they’re stung.
Talk to your doctor or an allergy specialist about prevention measures such as immunotherapy to avoid a similar reaction in case you get stung again.
Generally, insects such as bees and wasps aren’t aggressive and only sting in self-defense.
In most cases, this results in one or perhaps a few stings. However, in some cases a person will disrupt a hive or swarm of bees and get multiple stings. Some types of bees — such as Africanised honeybees — are more likely than are other bees to swarm, stinging in a group.
Now that you know how important bees are, Wart hog hopesthat you can all play our role preserving their well being and the environment in totality.
Wildlife & Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia
P.O. Box 30255, Lusaka, Zambia.
Telefax: 260-211-251630, Cell: 0977-780770
-+E-mail: wecsz@coppernet.zm