Why do Bumble bees get pollen ?

Question

My son was asking today why bumble bees collect pollen when its the honey bees which make honey ?? and i couldnt answer so maybe one of you brainy people can let him know, and if you know of any websites too that be great!!!
also (another question he had...)
what is the purpose of hover flies ???? i told him they are just meant to hover but dont think he believed that lol :)

Answer 1

Bumble bees and honey bees both gather pollen and nectar. They do so for the same reasons, pollen is incorporated into the honey and feed to the baby bees, larvae, and the adults consume the mixture as well. The pollen provides the proteins that the bees need and the honey provides the carbohydrates.

Answer 2

Herein lies the reason for scientific names (latin nomenclature). Bumble bees, honey bees are common names. It doens't mean that other bees don't make honey just because YOU don't refer to them at honey bees.

Furthermore, nature's purpose for animal pollenators is to transfer pollen from the stamen (male flower part) to the pistol (female flower part) so fertilization can occur (hence the expression the birds and the bees-they help to fertlize plants), not to collect pollen to make honey.

In addition, pollen does not make honey. Nectar is a food source for bees (and other pollenators). The plant provides the nectar as food so the pollenators have a reason to come to the flower in the first place, pollenating as they feed. Nectar is carried back to the hive. Honey is a byproduct of the bees' lifestyle. I will stop here, or you won't want to eat honey anymore.

I am not sure how old your son is, but the website enchantedlearning.com has great, kid-friendly information, coloring pages, and games. Also check out Yahooligans, it's Yahoo just for kids.

Sandie
Science teacher, horticulturalist, apiary enthusiast

Answer 3

Bumble bees do make food from pollen.

Hover flies, as are many species ,
just part of the food chain.
When man, in his "infinite wisdom" destroys a species, some other species also suffers, etc.

Where would we be without Buzzards?

Up to our a** in dead animals.

Answer 4

The pollen is what gets stuck on the bees legs when they are searching for nectar from flowers.The pollen is not used/consumed by the bees at all,it is just a "hitch hiker" to get to the other plants for pollination.As for hover flies try www.discoverychannel.com they may have info on them at their site. Or pick up some books on insects.He sounds like he is very inquisitive.

Answer 5

Well..The only reason I can think of why they get pollen is another way other plants get polinated. It sounds right to me. Now hover flies I have no idea what they do. Also I thought all bees made honey..hmm..Oh well.

Answer 6

Bumblebees actually get the nectar that's inside the flower. They get the pollen by chance. They use the nectar to make honeycombs and honey.

Hoverflies are true flies and they pollinate flowers.
Their larva also eat aphids and other pests.

Answer 7

I didn't think there was a difference to be honest! Oh well shows you how much I know then. lol

Hover flies apparently eat other insects my mother told me when I was younger and I was told they are sensing their surroundings when they hover, but that might be rubbish my parents told me to shut me up. :)

Answer 8

to make honey