BEES

ALL ABOUT BEES! Bee is a common name for any of the insects that constitute the superfamily Apoidea of the order Hymenoptera, which also includes wasps and ants. About 20,000 species exist, varying in size There are three different types of nesting habits for bees –Solitary: each bee makes it’s own nest and provides for it’s own young –Social: live together in permanent colonies consisting of a queen and worker castes. –Parasitic: do not make nests or forage themselves, but rather use the nests and food of other species of bees to provide for their parasitic young

Bees are fuzzy and carry an electrostatic charge, thus aiding in the adherence of pollen All bees eat nectar and pollen. There are three castes of bees: queens which produce eggs; drones or males, which mate with the queen; and workers, which are all non- reproducing females Larvae hatch from eggs in 3 to 4 days The population of a healthy hive in mid-summer can average between 40,000 and 80,000 bees. A worker honeybee can sting only once Honey bees are able to direct other bees to food sources through the round dance and the waggle dance. The round dance tells the other foragers that food is within 50 meters of the hive, but it does not provide much information regarding direction. The waggle dance, which may be vertical or horizontal, provides more detail about both the distance and the direction of the located food source Information Taken From:

Other Curricular Areas Student can use the images they view on Bugscope in their art classes. There are lots of creative ways these pictures could be manipulated to create works of art. Also, these pictures would be a good way to discuss the use of light and shading in various projects. Pollen on a Bee LegBee Stinger

Students can also use Bugscope for creative writing purposes in english classes. The pictures make for good story starters and open up creative outlets. Bee Eye: This is a picture of a bee eye magnified to In this picture you can see the details of the eye which cannot be seen by looking at the bee. You can see everything up to the bacteria growing on the eye. The picture I drew in the 3 rd slide shows the eye as a black circle which is how a bee eye looks to the unaided human eye.

NSES Application I believe that Bugscope, most closely applies to Science as Inquiry. “In a full inquiry students begin with a question, design an investigation, gather evidence, formulate an answer to the original question, and communicate the investigative process and results.” Students working with Bugscope begin with questions about the bugs they chose to observe. From here they investigate the bug and decide to take closer look at it. They formulate an investigation using Bugscope. They are looking at the bug in ways not possible to them otherwise, and are asking experts to help them gather information (evidence) about their bug. Using all that information they can answer their original questions.

Authenticity Bugscope provides students with a knowledge of a new technology that they may not otherwise become familiar with. It allows the students to explore and see things that they would not be able to see with the human eye. It is a form of technology which allows students develop their internet skills and directly receive data from experts.

Literature Robbing the Bees : A Biography of Honey--The Sweet Liquid Gold that Seduced the World by: Holley BishopHolley Bishop For Love of Insects by: Thomas EisnerThomas Eisner Brilliant Bees by: Linda Glaser