How to Identify and Classify Bees - Test
  • 1. What is the most obvious physical characteristic that distinguishes bees from flies?
A) Bees have longer antennae; flies have shorter antennae.
B) Bees have thicker bodies; flies have thinner bodies.
C) Bees have larger eyes; flies have smaller eyes.
D) Bees have branched hairs; flies have unbranched hairs.
  • 2. Which bee family is known for its pollen baskets (corbiculae) on its hind legs?
A) Halictidae
B) Megachilidae
C) Apidae
D) Andrenidae
  • 3. What is the primary food source for bee larvae?
A) Pollen and nectar
B) Only nectar
C) Only pollen
D) Honey and water
  • 4. Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic for identifying bee species?
A) Size and color
B) Wing vein patterns
C) Facial markings
D) Hair patterns
  • 5. Leafcutter bees belong to which family?
A) Colletidae
B) Megachilidae
C) Apidae
D) Andrenidae
  • 6. What does 'eusocial' mean in the context of bee societies?
A) Living in solitary nests.
B) Having cooperative brood care, overlapping generations, and reproductive division of labor.
C) Having equal division of labor.
D) Having only one queen.
  • 7. Which bee family typically has heart-shaped faces?
A) Apidae
B) Megachilidae
C) Andrenidae
D) Halictidae
  • 8. What is the function of the scopa in bees?
A) To build nests
B) To defend the hive
C) To sting
D) To carry pollen
  • 9. Which bee family is known for its cellophane-like nest linings?
A) Halictidae
B) Megachilidae
C) Colletidae
D) Apidae
  • 10. What distinguishes a bee's antenna from other insects?
A) Bees have straight antennae.
B) Bees have feathery antennae.
C) Bees have geniculate antennae.
D) Bees have segmented antennae.
  • 11. What is the role of worker bees in a honey bee colony?
A) Performing tasks such as foraging, building comb, and caring for the brood.
B) Laying eggs.
C) Mating with the queen.
D) Protecting the hive from predators.
  • 12. Which bee is often metallic green or blue?
A) Andrenidae (Mining Bees)
B) Halictidae (Sweat Bees)
C) Megachilidae (Leafcutter Bees)
D) Apidae (Honey Bees)
  • 13. How do you differentiate between male and female bees in most species?
A) Males typically have longer antennae and lack stingers.
B) Females are more colorful than males.
C) Females are always larger than males.
D) Males have pollen baskets, females do not.
  • 14. What does 'oligolectic' mean when describing a bee?
A) Collecting pollen from any flower.
B) Collecting only nectar.
C) Specializing in collecting pollen from only a few plant species.
D) Building nests in trees.
  • 15. What is the primary role of drone bees in a honey bee hive?
A) To forage for food
B) To defend the hive
C) To mate with the queen
D) To build honeycombs
  • 16. Which characteristic is NOT helpful in identifying bees?
A) The flower visited by the bee.
B) The shape of the bee's mandibles.
C) The time of day the bee is active.
D) The bee's nesting behavior.
  • 17. What type of mouthparts do bees possess?
A) A piercing-sucking mouthpart.
B) A siphoning mouthpart.
C) A proboscis for sucking nectar.
D) Mandibles for chewing wood.
  • 18. What is the role of the queen bee?
A) Foraging for food
B) Laying eggs
C) Cleaning the hive
D) Guarding the hive
  • 19. What is the main purpose of nectar collection for bees?
A) To provide carbohydrates for energy
B) To attract mates
C) To build nests
D) To provide protein for larval development
  • 20. Which bee family is usually small and dark, often with metallic reflections?
A) Halictidae
B) Andrenidae
C) Apidae
D) Megachilidae
  • 21. What is the hamuli?
A) A stinging apparatus.
B) A sensory organ on the antenna.
C) Hooks that connect the front and hind wings.
D) A type of pollen basket.
  • 22. Which bee family is known for their large size and fuzzy appearance, resembling bumblebees?
A) Andrenidae
B) Halictidae
C) Apidae (some species)
D) Megachilidae
  • 23. What type of nests do solitary bees typically build?
A) Individual nests in the ground, cavities, or plant stems.
B) Paper nests.
C) Nests made of mud.
D) Large communal hives.
  • 24. What is a kleptoparasitic bee?
A) A bee that only collects nectar.
B) A bee that is highly aggressive.
C) A bee that builds nests in decaying wood.
D) A bee that steals pollen from other bees' nests.
  • 25. What is the significance of the bee's branched hairs in pollen collection?
A) They help the bee fly faster.
B) They increase the surface area for pollen to adhere to.
C) They help the bee attract mates.
D) They protect the bee from predators.
  • 26. Which bee does not have branched hairs?
A) Megachilidae
B) Apidae
C) None, branched hairs are defining characteristic
D) Halictidae
  • 27. What is the function of the malar space in bees?
A) The area between the base of the mandibles and the eyes
B) The stingers entry point to its host
C) Pouch for storing nectar
D) Air intake for breathing
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