Wild Bees of Slovenia

WILD BEES OF SLOVENIA

As pollinators of numerous plants,

bees are indispensable for

the survival of terrestrial

ecosystems.

Their predecessors were wasps,

which substituted animal prey for

pollen and nectar from flowers of the flowering

plants.

Plants discharge nectar in their flowers for the

very purpose to attract pollinators, and as pollen is a

protein-rich nutrient, it suffices

for the development of

the bees' offspring.

IN SLOVENIA,

562 wild bee species

have been registered so far, most of them living a solitary life.

Every female makes the nest by herself

and takes care of the food necessary for her descendants.

Bees are distinguishable from each other by their

life habits and adaptation to their

plant hosts.

They are from 3 mm to 2.5 cm (the

size reached by the giant

carpenter bee) long.

Wild bees are at risk of extinction due to

the lack of bee fauna, insecticide use and habitat

destruction.

We can help the wild bees by providing

nest sites for them, i.e. hollow stems (e.g. old bamboo

canes), holes drilled into blocks of wood, bricks with holes …

BUILDING THE SCHOOL'S INSECT HOTEL:

A solitary bee pollinates as much

as two bumblebees, a

bumblebee pollinates as much

as 60 domestic honey bees.

A solitary bee pollinates as much as 120 domestic honey bees.

LET'S PLANT BEE-FRIENDLY PLANTS IN THE GARDEN!

MORE INFO:• http://www2.pms-lj.si/andrej/bees.htm,

IMAGE SOURCE:• http://www2.pms-lj.si/andrej/hylang.htm,• http://www2.pms-lj.si/andrej/apoidea.htm,

VIDEO

SOURCE

• http://www2.pms-lj.si/andrej/bees.htm

Images:Marjana KladnikRenata Mastnak