Into a Bee's Nest

It’s a breezy spring day. The sun shines as you buzz from flower to flower. Your tiny body is layered with fuzzy black and yellow stripes. You’re a honeybee!

Today you’re on a mission. Your task? Finding food for your family. 

You spot a sunflower ahead, land on the plant, and slurp! You suck up a sweet juice called nectar using your long, straw-like tongue. A sticky powder called pollen clings to your body as you fly away. Moments later, you spot another flower. As you dive down for more food, some of the pollen on your legs falls onto this flower. 

You don’t realize it, but you’re not only finding food for your family, you’re also spreading pollen—and helping the entire planet!

It’s a breezy spring day. The sun is shining. You fly from flower to flower. Your tiny body is covered with fuzzy black and yellow stripes. You’re a honeybee! 

You see a sunflower in front of you. You land on the sunflower and slurp! You suck up a sweet juice called nectar with your tongue. Your tongue is long like a straw. As you fly away, a sticky powder called pollen clings to your body. Then you spot another flower. You dive down for more nectar. Some of the pollen on your legs falls onto this flower.

You don’t realize it, but you’re not only finding food for your family. You’re also spreading pollen and helping the entire planet!

Bees are powerful pollinators, spreading pollen between plants as they buzz about. Plants need pollen to help them grow fruits and veggies. 

Worker bees like you visit thousands of flowers a day, collecting nectar and pollen. It helps that you can fly up to 15 miles per hour. (That’s about as fast as a human riding a bike!)

Now it’s time to take that delicious food home. You spot your nest inside a hollow tree. But you can’t just fly inside. A group of guard bees protects the entrance. Their job? To attack and sting animals trying to steal the nest’s honey. The guards will let you inside only if you smell familiar. Gulp! Will you be allowed in?

Bees are powerful pollinators. Pollinators are animals that spread pollen between plants. Plants need pollen to help them grow fruits and veggies.

Worker bees like you visit thousands of flowers a day. You collect nectar and pollen. Thankfully, you can fly up to 15 miles per hour. (That’s about as fast as a human riding a bike!)

Now it’s time to take that delicious food home. You see your nest inside a tree. But you can’t just fly inside. A group of guard bees protects the entrance. Their job is to attack and sting animals trying to steal the nest’s honey. The guards will let you inside only if you smell familiar. Gulp! Will you be allowed in?

Phew! You pass the smell test and fly inside. There are more than 60,000 bees in the nest—and they’re all members of your family! 

Suddenly, you find yourself face-to-face with the queen bee. She’s the biggest member of your family—and your mom! The queen lays about 2,000 eggs every day. You drop off some pollen for the new baby bees. It has plenty of nutrients to help them grow.

Bzzz! You spot some house bees nearby. Time to give them your nectar. How? By throwing it up from one of your stomachs! This might sound gross, but the house bees will turn your nectar into yummy honey.

The honey will feed your fellow bees when the weather gets cold. Many humans and other animals enjoy the sweet treat too.

Phew! You pass the smell test and fly inside. There are more than 60,000 bees in the nest. And they’re all members of your family!

Suddenly, you find yourself face-to-face with the queen bee. She’s the biggest member of your family. She’s also your mom! The queen lays about 2,000 eggs every day. You drop off some pollen for the new baby bees. Pollen has plenty of nutrients to help them grow.

Bzzz! You see some house bees nearby. You give them your nectar by throwing it up from one of your stomachs! This might sound gross, but the house bees will turn your nectar into yummy honey. The honey will feed your fellow bees when the weather gets cold. Many humans and other animals enjoy the sweet treat too.

Suddenly, the nest starts to shake. You hear the scritch-scratch of claws against the tree bark. It’s a badger, here to steal honey! 

Sniff! Sniff! A big, wet nose sticks through the entrance of the nest. 

The guard bees spring into action and start stinging the badger. You zoom toward the badger’s furry face to help. The badger is thousands of times your size. But working together, you all sting it enough times to scare the creature away.

Phew! You helped save the nest. It’s good news for your family—and all the plants and animals near you. Now it’s time to head back outside to collect more pollen and nectar. It’s not easy
being a busy bee!

Suddenly, the nest starts to shake. You hear claws scratching against the tree bark. It’s a badger. It’s here to steal honey!

Sniff! Sniff! A big, wet nose sticks through the opening to the nest.

The guard bees jump into action. They start stinging the badger. You fly toward the badger’s furry face to help. The badger is thousands of times your size. You work together to sting it enough times to scare it away.

Phew! You helped save the nest. It’s good news for your family. It’s also great for all the plants and animals near you. Now it’s time to head back outside to collect more pollen and nectar. It’s not easy being a busy bee!