Brief encyclopedia of bees

1. Honey bees (Apis): Honeybees are probably the best known and most studied bees within the bee world. They belong to the genus Apis and are native to Eurasia and Africa. There are approximately 9 recognized species of honey bees, with the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) being the most common and widely distributed. They are known for their honey and wax production, as well as for their crucial role in plant pollination. They live in colonies composed of a queen, workers and drones. Communication among honeybees is complex and they use the buzz dance to transmit information about the location of food sources ^1^.
2. Solitary bees: Unlike honey bees, solitary bees do not form colonies and, as their name implies, live and nest solitarily. It is estimated that there are more than 20,000 species of solitary bees worldwide, representing the vast majority of bee species ^2^. Examples of solitary bees include mason bees (Osmia), which build their nests using mud, and carpenter bees (Xylocopa), which nest in wood ^3^. Although they do not produce honey, solitary bees are extremely efficient pollinators and play a vital role in the pollination of wild plants and agricultural crops ^4^.
3. Stingless bees (Meliponini): Stingless bees are a group of tropical and subtropical bees that belong to the tribe Meliponini and comprise about 500 species ^5^. Despite their name, some of these bees have stingers, although they are very small and cannot penetrate human skin. Stingless bees are important pollinators in their native habitats and also produce honey, although in smaller quantities than honeybees ^6^. An example of a stingless bee is the angel bee (Melipona beecheii), which is native to Central America and Mexico ^7^.
4. Cuckoo bees (Nomadinae): Cuckoo bees are a subfamily of parasitic bees that includes about 3,000 species ^8^. Unlike other bees, cuckoo bees do not collect pollen or build their own nests. Instead, they lay their eggs in the nests of other bees, especially solitary bees, and their larvae feed on pollen and nectar collected by the host bees. A known example of a cuckoo bee is the red-headed cuckoo bee (Nomada ruficornis) ^9^. Despite their parasitic behavior, cuckoo bees may play a role in pollination indirectly by keeping host bee populations under control ^10^.
5. Orchid bees (Euglossini): Orchid bees are a group of tropical bees found mainly in Central and South America. They belong to the Euglossini tribe and are characterized by their specialized relationship with orchids ^11^. Male orchid bees collect volatile chemicals from orchid flowers and use them to attract females during mating. This behavior is essential for pollination of many orchid species. An example of an orchid bee is the green orchid bee (Euglossa viridissima) ^12^.
6. Mining bees (Andrenidae): Mining bees are a family of solitary bees that nest in the ground, excavating tunnels and chambers in the earth ^13^. There are more than 3,000 species of mining bees worldwide ^14^, and they are usually efficient pollinators of early spring flowering plants. An example of a mining bee is the spring mining bee (Andrena vaga) ^15^.
   
   
7. Plumerillo bees (Dasypodaidae): Plumerillo bees, also known as scopa bees or wool bees, are a family of solitary bees characterized by their ability to collect pollen in specialized structures called scopes located on their hind legs or abdomen ^16^. There are about 3,000 species of plumerillo bees worldwide ^17^. These bees play an important role in the pollination of wild plants and crops, and some species are specialized pollinators of specific plants. An example of a feathered bee is the wool bee (Anthidium manicatum), which is known to collect wool and animal hair fibers to build its nests ^18^.
8. Leafcutter bees (Megachilidae): Leafcutter bees are a family of solitary bees known for their distinctive behavior of cutting circular or semicircular pieces of leaves to build their nests ^19^. There are more than 4,000 species of leafcutter bees worldwide ^20^. Despite their leaf-cutting behavior, which can cause damage to plants, these bees are efficient pollinators and beneficial to biodiversity ^21^. An example of a leafcutter bee is the alfalfa bee (Megachile rotundata), which is an important pollinator of alfalfa and other crops ^22^.
9. Sweat bees (Halictidae): Sweat bees are a family of bees that includes about 4,000 species worldwide ^23^. These bees are generally small in size and have a metallic or shiny appearance. Although some species of sweat bees are solitary, others exhibit eusocial behavior in which females cooperate in nest building and provisioning ^24^. Sweat bees are important pollinators of wild plants and crops. An example of a sweat bee is the green metallic bee (Agapostemon texanus) ^25^.
10. Potter bees (Anthophoridae): Potter bees are a family of solitary bees that build mud-based nests in the form of urns or tubes ^26^. There are more than 5,000 species of potter bees worldwide ^27^. These bees are important pollinators and specialize in collecting pollen and nectar from specific plants. An example of a potter bee is Say’s potter bee (Pseudanthidium nanum), which is an efficient pollinator of tubular flowers ^28^.

In summary, there is a great diversity of bee groups with unique characteristics and behaviors. From honeybees to solitary bees to stingless bees to cuckoo bees, each group plays a vital role in pollination and maintaining biodiversity. Understanding and protecting these different bee species is essential to ensure the health of our ecosystems and global food security.