Ten Interesting Facts About The Bumblebee.

So much more than collectors of nectar and honey, bumblebees are truly fascinating creatures of the insect world.

So small, yet so efficient, the bumblebee not only defies the law of nature by taking to flight (although it's not aerodynamically built for flying), it also possess other unique and interesting qualities such as...

1.) There are at least 300 different species of bumblebees!

2.) Bumblebees make honey pots from wax pressed out from between their abdominal segments.

3.) Bumblebees use a process called "buzz pollination" to extract pollen from flowers that are tightly packed with it. This process involves vibrating their flight muscles, creating a loud buzzing sound as they curl their bodies around the flower. The noise emanating from the bee, vibrates the flower and shakes the pollen out.

4.) During the summer months, bees hover at the top of the nest and vibrate their wings (much like a ceiling fan) to circulate the air and keep the nest nice and cool.

5.) Bumblebees hibernate underground.

6.) Since a bumblebee's body is naturally cool, they cannot become airborne until their bodies become warm.

7.) Bumblebees do not have ears.

8.) Bumblebees make their homes in abandoned nests (such as a bird or mouse nest).

9.) Bumblebees can lay six to ten eggs at one sitting.

10.) Excluding Arctic regions, bumblebees are found throughout the world.

The Bumblebee - truly an interesting specimen of the insect world!