Bees in Decline
In Bees in Decline, visit a collection of bee specimens at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. There are more than 250 species of bees, and they help pollinate everything from apples to flowers. But bees are in decline, and one reason is the varroa mite, a tiny bug that causes a big problem.
Lesson Express
Q: What does it mean that the wild bees are the “unsung heroes” of pollination?
A: Even though the wild bees are doing most of the pollination, they do not get as much credit as honeybees or bumblebees.
Q: What is happening to bees right now?
A: Bees are in decline; many bees are being killed by the varroa mite; the varroa mite is causing colony collapse disorder.
Q: What surprised you about bees? What did you learn?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may mention that there are 250 species of bees or that entire colonies of bees are disappearing.
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