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