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Frogs are tailless, slimy-looking amphibians belonging to the order Anura. They mostly have bulgy eyes jutted out from the surrounding surface. Frogs make croaking sounds and have webbed solid hind feet suitable for leaping and swimming. They also have smooth, moist skin and are primarily aquatic; however, some live on land, caves, and woods. An intriguing fact about these amphibians is that they mostly reside in damp, humid places like ponds or streams, and they can effortlessly respire through their skins.

The Background on Frogs

Frogs are mainly carnivores and catch prey using their tongue. Adult frogs eat insects and worms, while young tadpoles feed on algae with the help of their salivas. Their saliva is usually viscous, so when they hit their prey with their tongue, the force liquefies the sticky saliva on the prey's body and makes it easy to be eaten.

Though these pretty little amphibians look seemingly harmless, some South American frogs are toxic. These frogs are so poisonous that a single drop of secretions from their skin can kill a full-grown adult human. Aside from their deadly traits, frogs generally make delicious delicacies for some humans and animals who eat them.

What Eats Frogs?

Birds, reptiles, and fish prey on frogs.
Seregraff/Shutterstock.com

Animals like snakes, lizards, water shrews, and herons eat frogs.
Despite their incredible defense mechanisms, frogs make lovely meals for an astonishing array of wildlife. Frogs are vulnerable to predators on the ground, underwater, and from above. They are mainly defenseless to their predators while still in their egg or tadpole stages. Frog predators include:

Frog Predators: Birds

Birds that eat frogs include herons, storks, seagulls, crows, egrets, ducks, swans, geese, ravens, hawks, owls, cranes, blue jays, loons, and kingfish. Fascinatingly, their habitat plays a vital role in how often these flying creatures eat frogs. So by default, frogs that share the same natural environment with birds are more likely to become food for them regularly.

The heron bird, for instance, struggles for about 15 minutes with the humongous frog before swallowing it whole. It opens its beak wide to maneuver the frog to slip down its gullet.

Crows, too, have a defense mechanism against toxins that some frogs possess. For this reason, the crows gain a more significant advantage by consuming a large variety of frogs than other bird contemporaries.

Frog Predators: Reptiles

Reptiles like pythons eat frogs.
Sanne Romijn Fotografie/Shutterstock.com

Several reptile species like lizards, snakes, and aquatic animals enjoy eating frogs.
Snakes eat frogs; however, they swallow them whole because they do not have teeth to break down their meals.

Surprising as it may seem, some lizards eat frogs. However, the size of their meal sometimes becomes a challenge for these reptiles, so by default, they may need to be bigger before they can enjoy most of their prey. Lizards like bearded dragons, chameleons, iguanas, and monitors eat frogs.

Both snapping turtles and alligators eat frogs, and this special meal with other delicacies increases their dietary nutrition throughout their lifespan.

Frog Predators: Fish

Bass are carnivores that eat a combination of insects, fish, and other small creatures.
iStock.com/RLSPHOTO

Many fish species eat frogs in small quantities, but some fish species, like bass, eat frogs in large amounts. These predatory fish mostly enjoy eating frogs because of their teeth rows in their jaws. Common fish species that eat frogs include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and the northern pike.

Frog Predators: Small Mammals

Small mammals like foxes are known to eat frogs.
iStock.com/Tyrannax

A large variety of small mammals eat frogs. Such species include skunks, foxes, weasels, stoats, raccoons, and many others. Pets like cats and dogs also eat frogs occasionally, but unfortunately, they tend to become very sick, courtesy of the frog's skin toxins.

Frog Predators: Humans

Frog legs are a well-known delicious French and Chinese cuisine. And amazingly, they have been harvested in Turkey for more than 30 years with an exponential increase in sales. Frog legs are widely eaten in different parts of the world today because of their proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and potassium nutritional value to humans.

Other Dangers to Frogs

During spring, the population of frogs increases immensely, and consequently, people drive frogs away from their houses during this season. Humans use different methods, including putting in a barrier, hiring exterminators, or even killing them.

How Frogs Defend Themselves from Predators

Frogs have different mechanisms to defend themselves from their predators, and these techniques may include:

Urinating to deter predators.

Jumping tactics: Many frogs may use their ability to jump away from predators.

Biting abilities: Some frogs have solid biting teeth and may bite their predators.

Slippery advantage: A frog may put itself in a slick mode to avoid predators.

Distress calls: Frogs may make noise by screaming to frighten their predators as a defense mechanism.

Types Of Frogs

In the tropics, there are several different frog species, and they include:

The red-eyed tree frog: Red-eyed tree frogs (Agalychnis callidryas), also known as monkey frogs, are native to tropical lowlands. They are a species that flashes exaggerated color and impressive jumping abilities.

The blue poison dart frog: The blue poison dart frog is known as Dendrobates tinctorius. It is seen as the most beautiful frog and similar to a precious gemstone among other frogs. This frog is a rare species found in some rainforests in Suriname and northern Brazil. Its appearance may be eye-catching; however, alkaloids in its skin are poisonous and potent enough to kill predators.

The poisonous golden frog: As the name implies, this frog has a lethal toxic substance known as batrachotoxin in its bright-colored skin. Even though it looks harmless, it is considered one of the most poisonous animal species on earth.

Amazon milk frogs (Trachycephalus resinifictrix): They are unique species native to the Amazon rainforest of South America. They have unique characteristics - their color fades as they grow, and their skin becomes increasingly granular in texture.

The tomato frog: This frog is native to the island of northeastern Madagascar. Tomato frogs are relatively large-like tomatoes and have bright colors.

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Frogs are tailless, slimy-looking amphibians belonging to the order Anura. They mostly have bulgy eyes jutted out from the surrounding surface. Frogs make croaking sounds and have webbed solid hind feet suitable for leaping and swimming. They also have smooth, moist skin and are primarily aquatic; however, some live on land, caves, and woods.

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If you buy an item via links on this page, we may earn a commission. Our editorial content is not influenced by commissions. Read the full disclosure.

As a beekeeper, you pride yourself in keeping your hive thriving and growing. You love the products your bees provide, year after year. It may be easy to assume that your colony can fend for itself, and in many cases, it can and does, but there are a few bee predators that you need to be aware of, some you can fend off, and others you should just know about.

If something changes with your hive, it will be beneficial to be able to identify why and what bee predators may be causing sudden changes.

6 Most Common Bee Predators in the Wild

The following predators are wild animals and insects that prey on bees specifically. While you should always be on the lookout for small parasitic predators, like the Varroa Mite, there are a few others that can cause hive loss, or even swarming.

1. Bears

Bears are probably the first thing that comes to your mind when thinking about bee predators. Yes, we are talking about the big bears: the Grizzly and the Black and Brown Bears.

These wild giants do love honey as much as Pooh Bear, but they are much larger and destructive than Winnie. The bears you need to be on the lookout for not only enjoy honey but also the actual brood for the protein content.

When a bear has supper from your hive, it can be a devastating massacre. Bears can destroy an entire hive by ripping it apart or tipping it on its side to get to the honey and bees.

2. Skunks

You will know if a skunk has raided your hive if there are remnants of bees laying about outside the hive. Skunks enjoy eating bees themselves, and they will actually suck on the bees, and spit out the parts they aren't interested in eating.

A skunk will collect bees from the lower entrance of your hive, so if you can, raise your hive a few feet off the ground. This will deter this smelly nuisance from eating your bees. Skunks don't want to stretch itself out and expose its soft belly to the threat of bee stings.

3. Beewolves AKA Wasps

Beewolves are also known as wasps. These nasty insects prefer to eat bees and use them to feed their developing brood. Beewolves tunnel into the ground, where they lay their eggs on top of paralyzed, or dead, honeybees. The honeybees are kept alive as long as possible to keep them fresh for the wasps' developing larva to consume.

According to Science Daily, studies have shown that the wasps use gas to preserve the bees in the brood cells while preventing bacteria and fungus from growing.

When a beewolf attacks a honeybee, it stings and paralyzes the bee. A honeybee may try to defend itself by stinging; however, the wasp has powerful armor that can deflect the bees attempt at defending itself.

Wasps will enter your beehive and attack the bees within it. In doing so, they are also exposing the hive to the danger of other robbers and predators by busting up the cells and allowing the sweet aroma of honey to drift into the wild.

While beewolves usually pick off a few bees here and there, this predator does not usually cause as much devastation as some of the others on this list.

4. Bee-Eater Birds

Luckily this predator is only found in certain parts of the world, mostly in Africa and Asia. Birds, in general, may choose to consume bees, but this family of birds, Meropidae, seeks out bees specifically.

Bee Eaters are careful in their hunt, as they expertly attack bees in mid-flight, and proceed to smash them on hard surfaces to remove the stinger, and any remaining venom; then they enjoy their meal.

Bee Eaters are actually quite beautiful birds with bright colors and a delicate long beak, perfect for bee-catching.

In general, you have very little control over bird predators, but rest easy knowing that any bee loss due to birds is actually going to be quite minimal.

5. Crab Spiders

It's no secret that the reason spiders build webs is to catch other insects to feast upon. This is no different for bees getting caught in a spider's web.

There are some sneaky spiders, referred to as flower crab spiders, that hideout amongst bees' favorite flowers hoping to catch their prey off guard. These spiders can even change color, camouflaging them against the flower they are hunting from.

Because crab spiders eat anything and everything, they don't care whether they are eating a honeybee pollinator or another type of insect. Unless you have a significant spider problem, it usually doesn't justify worrying about bee loss. However, some people decide to pursue pesticide options, which can do more harm than good for the bees.

6. Hive Beetles

The Small Hive Beetle is another invasive bug that infiltrates a beehive and sets up shop. Typically, these little beetles do not enter hives of healthy bees, because they risk being killed easily by worker bees.

If a hive is weak, ill, or otherwise, the beetles can quickly overtake an entire colony, or cause the hive to swarm.

How Bees Defend Themselves

Honeybees tend to take excellent care of themselves, however, unlike most animals we care for, we have very little control over what happens when a busy bee leaves its hive in pursuit of pollen.

1. The Sting

A honeybee's primary defense mechanism is its ability to sting a predator, injecting a debilitating, sometimes deadly, venom. Even the Bee Eater birds are not immune to this line of defense, and that is why they take care to remove the venom before eating the honeybee.

Amazingly, only female honeybees can deliver a sting to its enemies, and despite what most people believe, the bee does not die after stinging its attacker, unless it has stung a mammal with fleshy skin-aka humans.

There are barbs on a bee's stinger, invisible to the naked eye, that when plunged into mammal skin, cannot be removed; thus the bee loses its stinger, and whatever other internal elements go with it. With that being said, honeybees can use their stingers as defense mechanisms against other insects and non-mammalian animals and survive.

2. The Hot Ball

The Japanese honeybee has come up with an ingenious way to kill larger insects that pose a threat to their hives, like the wasp.

If an intruder is nearby, the honeybees will plot to ambush the unwanted visitor. Literally, they get together, hide, and then attack the intruder.

The bees attack the predator by forming a "bee ball" around it and begin flapping their wings to create an intolerable, deadly, environment for the predator. Heat and carbon monoxide from the rapid wing-flapping suffocate and kill the intruder.

There is hope that this trait can be bred into other types of bees, but at this time, there has been little success.

3. Propolis

Bees actually create their own entrance reducer with propolis- a strong mixture of wax, saliva, and sap. Honeybees have rarely been known to take this action on their own. Most of the reports of a bee-made reducer come after a manmade reducer has been removed. I guess they liked the idea!

How to Help Defend Your Bees Against Bee Predators

The way bees defend themselves is impressive, and they continue to evolve in ways that keep them resilient against outside attacks from the wild. However, sometimes, they need your help against bee predators. The following tips are ways you can give your bees a helping hand.

1. Fence Your Hive In

Fencing is an easy way to keep large predators out of your hives. Using anything from chicken wire to hot fencing can help keep paws off your precious honey stores.

2. Keep Your Hive Off The Ground

Raising your hive a few feet off the ground will discourage skunks from stretching out and reaching up into your hive. They don't want to be stung on their bellies.

3. Live Traps

Live traps are ok for smaller bee-seeking critters, but be warned...if you catch a skunk, you are going to start your day off on the wrong foot. Live traps work best for predators like raccoons; however, they are more like band-aids rather than solutions to the problem.

4. Spike Strip

Ok, so this measure seems a little mean, but it has worked for fellow beekeepers. Basically, they make a board with nails or tacks poking upward to keep mammals away from the hive. Ouch!

5. Robbing Screens

These are screens meant to keep unwanted wasps, robbing bees, or beewolves, out of the hive while allowing resident bees to come and go. The screen confuses insects that do not live in the hive because they can smell the honey, and try to enter where they can smell it. The screen allows those leaving the hive to learn how to leave while keeping the intruders at bay.

6. Entrance Reduction

These are additions to a hive that allows for the small honeybees to enter the hive and not larger predators like wasps.

7. Natural Deterrents

Sometimes you can research smells that certain predators find unsavory. For example, certain kinds of urine or oil from other animals can deter predators from attempting to enter your hive.

Yes, bees do a great job of defending their colony, but if you know who has been dipping into the honey pot, you can also find out what rubs predators the wrong way and deploy your best artillery.

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6 Common Bee Predators and How to Protect Your Hive

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If you buy an item via links on this page, we may earn a commission. Our editorial content is not influenced by commissions. Read the full disclosure. As a beekeeper, you pride yourself in keeping your hive thriving and growing. You love the products your bees provide, year after year.

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So, what animals and bugs are attracted to Sunflowers? A numerous amount. Sunflower bugs and beetles, Cutworms, ladybugs, spiders, bees, snails, butterflies, moths, aphids, seed Weevils, squirrels, rabbits, birds, deer, mice, rats, hedgehogs, chipmunks, Raccoons and the list goes on. Many are good and beneficial, some bad. Let's explore these further.

Not only are sunflower plants and seeds a tasty treat for me and my pets, I share them with the wild life that visits my garden too. Here's some important information on Are Sunflower Seeds Safe for Your Pets.

For all my decades growing sunflowers I have taken this for granted, so I thought I could share and explore what bugs and wild creatures can benefit from our glorious, bountiful blooms too.

So let us gaze, and graze, upon the life of a sunflower in the eyes of our fellow creatures.

Home Grown Sunflowers

You've planted your seeds (the ones you've saved before anything else can eat them) placed the pot in as sunnier place as you can, and your seedlings are starting to grow. Please click here for my ultimate guide to growing Sunflowers

It won't take long for your seedling to become recognisable as a sunflower plant. Sunflowers are one of the fasted growing plants, so make sure it's well watered and the pot doesn't dry out.

If you have enough pots, or garden, try growing different varieties and more varieties of bees will visit them and love you for it too. See my Ultimate Guide to Sunflower Varieties

What Bugs Are Attracted to Sunflowers

A picnic for wildlife and a safe haven for their young!

Before our sunflower has fully grown, and whilst it is a young plant, there will be a number of beetles and bugs visiting. Butterflies that will lay their eggs, leaf cutting solitary bees will take the greenery to build nests. Spiders will spin their webs and caterpillars will happily munch away too.

Ladybirds, ladybugs and lightning bugs will feast on the crowds of aphids. There's plenty to go round and enough for all.
A visiting Butterfly

The List of Bugs That Visit Sunflowers

Blooming Lovely

As our sunflower Follows the Sun to maturity, a curious procedure called heliotropism, I wrote about what heliotropism is and how it happens. It grows strong and comes into its glory as a huge, golden (well usually) inviting bloom, and this is when even more action from the wildlife world will occur.

The beatles and bugs are still carrying out their daily duties but along come the pollinators. Bees and butterflies fill up on tasty nectar from over a thousand filled florets, in return for this tasty drink they pollinate our sunflower so it can produce seeds. Find out here How Sunflowers Pollinate.

To Harvest or Not to Harvest

Firstly, if your sunflower doesn't appear to have any seeds, then click here to find out why

At the harvesting stage, the Larger variety of Sunflower can produce up and over of two thousand seeds and even at this stage the beetles and bugs are still foraging around, it is still a source of food and shelter to them.

But now bigger critters join the action and this is when you need to decide whether to protect all sunflower plants for your own pleasure and pets, 'go halves' with nature, by protecting some of them, or just let mother nature enjoy all of them till the end of the season.

To decide Lets explore our choices further...

What Wild Animals Eats Sunflower Plants and Seeds?

Depending on your location and region where you live. There is an action packed operation for the jewels in the crown of your sunflowers. An abundance of wildlife that will enjoy chomping on your plants.

These could include...

A large variety of birds, Bats, Mice, Deer

Squirrels, Groundhogs, Hedgehogs and Rats

Chipmunks, Voles, Raccoons, Rabbits

To leave your hard grown sunflowers for Mother nature to enjoy I feel is a credit to you.
Rabbits LOVE Sunflowers!

After the Seeds Have Gone

Now we have harvested our sunflower seeds or let nature have its way, our sunflower plant still has many uses and a lot to offer.

For our gardens, The cast off shells can be used for mulch and so to the stems. Or the stems can be dried out and used to build animal hides or winter homes for insects to shelter in.

For our homes, the seeds are not the only part of the sunflower we can eat, fresh, roasted or dried. The seedlings and leaves can be used in salads, the stalk is a crunchy celery like snack too. The seeds can be compressed for oil or processed for spreads and dips.

Some varieties of sunflowers shells can be used to make natural vibrant purple dyes for paints, soaps and their petals used as decoration. These are just some of the uses for sunflowers. I have plenty More Ideas for Sunflowers here.
So Many Uses For Sunflowers

My Tips and Advice

Again If you leave sunflowers to give back to the environment I commend you. I always plant more flowers than I need, even knowing that some of my seedlings might be a midnight snack for snails. I love watching the bees and butterflies feeding and flitting.

I can't get enough of the funny antics of the squirrels precariously dangling upside down trying to wrestle the seeds from their cases, I take great pleasure watching the early morning birds pecking and feasting on a fresh delight.

The smaller unwanted seeds fall to the ground and are picked up for a midnight supper for the stealthiest of mice.

How to Protect Sunflowers from Insects

Protecting Sunflower Seedlings.

Try using natural deterrents on your succulent seedlings. These could include crushed up egg shells and rough gravel piled up around your young plants.

If a huge outbreak of aphids or black fly occur try mixing a very mild solution of dishwasher liquid with water ( half a teaspoon of liquid to a pint of water) in a sprayer to spray on only the affected area. Though Usually these infestations will naturally clear up on their own and ladybugs will tackle them too.

Using shop bought poisons and pellets will in turn poison birds and animals that eat the slugs and bugs that you're using them for.

Protecting Mature Sunflowers

When your seedling has matured into fully grown sunflowers that attract our list of bigger critters, and you want to deter them from scaling your beautiful blooms, try contructing frames for fruit netting, use mesh or chicken wire. While protecting from larger animals, it will still allow pollinators in to feast and get your sunflower to produce seeds.

After thoughts.

I wrote this because I get frequently asked. 'What wild animals and bugs are eating my Sunflowers?' a lot of these people actually refer to all of these as 'pests', but some of these 'pests' are an essential part of our environment. This cycle allows our world to develop naturally

I realise a lot of my own thoughts and feelings have gone into this write up, and I hope I have given you a glimpse of the view on my side of the fence. The sort of wild side.

Our Sunflowers are a seasonally glorious plant that are many things to many beings. I hope to think we can all enjoy them

To Conclude

I love this in sunflowers, they are a complete package. The anticipation of hoping my saved seeds will poke through the soil. That the seedlings will survive being bug and slug food. Watching the force of my summers winds, rain and curious creatures munching and sheltering in them.

harvesting seeds for myself and my pets and then enjoying what I leave for mother natures and her own devices. I do all this knowing I'll have that pleasure to look forward to every year.

"The sunflower and her seeds are an all round mighty plant indeed" Pamela Anne

Related Questions

Are Hummingbirds Attracted to Sunflowers?

Sunflowers are one of the hummingbirds favorite flower. The sun like outer petals attract the hummingbirds to the large brown center disc. Within the disc are thousands of smaller flowers called disc florets. Each one of these disc florets contains a little cup of sweet nectar that hummingbirds love to feast on.

The mexican sunflower that can grow up to six feet tall, has striking, plush orange petals and is another favorite of hummingbirds too.

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What Animals and Bugs Are Attracted to Sunflowers?

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So, what animals and bugs are attracted to Sunflowers? A numerous amount. Sunflower bugs and beetles, Cutworms, ladybugs, spiders, bees, snails, butterflies, moths, aphids, seed Weevils, squirrels, rabbits, birds, deer, mice, rats, hedgehogs, chipmunks, Raccoons and the list goes on. Many are good and beneficial, some bad. Let's explore these further.

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Top 7 Duck Predators: How to Know Which and Prevention

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Ducks are far more vulnerable to duck predators than their barnyard poultry peers, chickens. There is an excellent reason the phrase "sitting duck" was coined. These meat and egg birds have no natural means of self-defense against common duck predators.

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Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

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Ducks are raised under a wide variety of conditions, ranging from a backyard coop for a few ducks to modern housing for large flocks on a commercial duck farm. Duck farming systems around the world vary from the very extensive herding system of the Orient, to the highly intensive modern commercial duck producing systems of the West, which are becoming much more common in the East as well. Regardless of the category of duck keeping, there are certain basic requirements that must be met if ducks are to remain healthy. Several of the pages on this site are intended to educate duck caretakers with regard to meeting these basic requirements.

Ducks adapt well to a wide range of systems of care provided they receive essential basic care. Except for the early brooding stage, when ducklings require a higher temperature and special attention by the caretaker (see brooding), the basic requirements of ducks are as follows.

Protection from extremes in weather conditions and predators.

A clean, dry sheltered area. Although ducks can spend most of their time outdoors, on ponds or in wet areas, they require a clean dry sheltered area where they can retreat, rest, clean and preen their feathers. This allows them to waterproof their plumage, which protects their skin from injury and helps keep their body warm.

Clean water for drinking, i.e., water that is free of germs and toxins harmful to ducks. Water for swimming is not essential, but can be beneficial in areas where temperatures are high.

A diet that provides all of the duck's daily nutritional needs.

Adequate light stimulation, especially for layers.

Protection from disease

Tirath S. Sandhu, DVM, Ph.D. and William F. Dean, Ph.D.

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Ducks are raised under a wide variety of conditions, ranging from a backyard coop for a few ducks to modern housing for large flocks on a commercial duck farm. Duck farming systems around the world vary from the very extensive herding system of the Orient, to the highly intensive modern commercial duck producing systems of the West, which are becoming much more common in the East as well.

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Chickens or ducks? Or both? Knowing the difference between raising chickens and ducks is essential to help you decide which species is the best fit for you. Both types have their special features and differing care needs. Let's see how raising backyard ducks compares to raising backyard chickens!

Ducks vs Chickens: Egg Production

Certain breeds of both chickens and ducks are excellent egg layers! Chicken breeds such as Leghorns or Isa Browns, and duck breeds like Khaki Campbells and Indian Runners can lay up to 300 eggs a year. Chickens will start laying when they are 4-5 months old. Ducks don't usually start laying until closer to 6-7 months of age, however, they have a longer productive lifespan than chickens.

When it comes to year-round production, ducks have the upper hand. Some breeds of ducks don't lay year-round, but the ones that do will lay on a regular basis and for more years than a chicken. They are less sensitive to environmental factors and will often lay even with minimal natural light. Keep in mind that duck eggs will be larger than chicken eggs. That means they will contain more fat, protein, cholesterol, and omega-3's. The extra-large eggs may also be harder to bake with in recipes. However, many people who have an allergy to chicken eggs can eat duck eggs just fine!

Grubbly Farms' Fresh Peck Layer Feed Crumbles is a nutritious diet to support egg production for ducks and hens.

Ducks vs Chickens: Housing

Both ducks and chickens can adapt to confinement or be free-range raised. Confinement means the birds are kept in an enclosed area with plenty of space to roam. Free-range means the birds are allowed access to as much property as is available.

Confinement

Chickens adapt better to confinement than ducks. Being able to adapt to confinement makes chickens ideal for small backyard situations. Some breeds adapt better to confinement than others, so choosing the best chicken breeds for your lifestyle is important. Despite the fact that chickens do better in confinement than ducks, they are also more prone to boredom and bullying behavior than ducks. Giving your flock access to pasture or limited free-range time can help reduce those behaviors. Ducks are harder to raise in confinement because they are messier than chickens and need access to a water source.

Free Range

Ducks prefer a free-range lifestyle and will happily forage for a majority of their own food. While they can be raised in a confined setting, they are much easier to care for and manage when they live a free-range lifestyle. You will still need to provide housing for the ducks to return to at night for safety. However, if they spend most of their day foraging, their housing will stay a lot cleaner. Free-range ducks will often forage for a majority of their own diet, making them self-sufficient and low maintenance.

One reason why ducks are easier to pasture raise is because they aren't as destructive as chickens. Chickens will dig up roots and have a blast turning a green pasture into a barren waste. They need a more regular pasture rotation system than ducks. Ducks don't do as much digging. They prefer grazing. However, they will often dig small holes with their bills in search of bugs. Ducks are also better at pest control than chickens.

Predator Vulnerability

Both ducks and chickens are attractive prey for many predators. Ducks are more susceptible to ground predators because they cannot fly. Chickens have a little better chance at defending themselves given that they can often fly out of reach and run faster than a duck can waddle. That means ducks will need a little more predator protection when it comes to free-ranging and housing them. If there is a large body of water available, ducks will often take to the water if possible when danger threatens.

Ducks vs Chickens: Maintenance & Management

Raising chickens and ducks do have some similarities, but there are also some differences you should be aware of when considering either species. Both species need a safe, predator-proof coop to sleep in at night and should be cleaned up after on a daily basis.

Coop

Chickens are usually housed in a chicken coop, whereas ducks are often kept in a duck house. Both chicken coops and duck houses should be predator proof, have good ventilation, and contain the necessities needed for raising either chickens or ducks. Chicken coops need to have roosting bars and nesting boxes. Chickens like to sleep on roosts that are off the ground and will lay their eggs in dark, safe locations like a nesting box. A duck house does not need either of those items. Ducks will make nests in the litter to sleep in at night. They will also use those ground nests to lay their eggs in instead of nesting boxes. The water source should also be kept outside of the duck house since ducks are extremely messy with their water!

Litter

While most litter options can be used for either chickens or ducks, you will want to consider that ducks are messier than chickens. Ducks naturally have wetter droppings than chickens, so having an absorbent litter in the duck house is mandatory.

Depending on how much time the ducks spend in their duck house, you may have to clean out the duck house more frequently than a chicken coop. In a chicken coop, you can install droppings boards or slings to make clean-up easier. However, since ducks sleep on the floor of their house, litter clean up may be a little more time consuming.

Coop Training

Chickens need to be cooped trained from a young age. Coop training entails teaching young chickens where to roost (sleep) at night. When you first move the young chickens out to their chicken coop, you will have to guide them inside the coop every evening until they learn to go in on their own.

Coop training can be made easy with the help of some tasty snacks, like Grubblies ! If you free-range your flock, you will also have to coop train them to return to the coop after free-ranging. If you have ever tried to herd a flock of chickens, you know it's nearly impossible! Training your flock to come when called (or at the shake of a bag) is well worth the time investment.

Ducks in general are easier to control than chickens. They are not quite as active as some chicken breeds and can be herded or controlled easier than a flock of chickens. In some regions of the world, ducks are routinely herded to different foraging locations. Being able to herd your ducks makes it a lot easier to get them back into their coop after free-ranging.

Noise

Chickens are known to be noisier than ducks. While each species does make some noise, the level of noise varies. Roosters are notoriously louder than drakes (male ducks) and hens can get pretty loud when they sing their 'egg song'.

Fencing

Chickens are very active, and many breeds are good flyers. Fencing often has to be higher for chicken breeds than for ducks. Most domestic species of ducks aren't the best flyers, so duck fencing doesn't have to be as tall as for chickens. For either species, the fencing should be predator proof and keep them safe. Having a roof or cover over the fencing is helpful for containing chickens, but is good for both species to keep them protected from aerial predators.

Space

Both chickens and ducks need ample space in order for them stay active and healthy. In general, ducks need more space than chickens since some duck breeds are large and ducks like a more free-roam lifestyle. Since a duck house doesn't need nesting boxes or roosts, it does make it easier to meet the housing space needs of ducks compared to chickens. When it comes to enclosure space, both chickens and ducks need plenty of space to move around, but ducks will also need access to a water source which may require more space. The amount of space you need to raise each species will depend on what breeds you choose and how many ducks or chickens you want to raise.

Ducks vs Chickens: Environmental Factors

When choosing what chicken or duck breeds to raise, you will have to take into consideration your local environmental factors. Seasonal temperatures and regional conditions are things to consider when choosing to raise ducks or chickens.

Seasonal Temperatures

Chicken breeds are often categorized as cold hardy or heat tolerant. If you live in an area that gets severe winter weather you will want to choose cold hardy breeds. If you live in an area that has , you should choose heat tolerant breeds. When choosing what duck breeds to raise, you aren't quite as limited by environmental factors. Most duck breeds can adapt to cold or hot climates. Ducks will also be more consistent layers despite weather fluctuations. hot summers

Regional Conditions

Chickens should be raised in drier conditions than ducks. Keeping a healthy flock of chickens is much easier when they aren't exposed to standing water which can contain harmful bacteria or wet conditions where disease causing organisms can thrive. Ducks can be raised in wetter conditions than chickens. Ducks love water and seem to have a stronger immune system when it comes to resisting disease-causing organisms found in wet places.

Ducks vs Chickens: Diet

Chickens and ducks can be fed a similar diet. However, each species does have slightly different nutritional needs. Most chicken breeds thrive on a more controlled diet. They need to be fed a ration that is completely formulated to meet their daily dietary needs. Chickens can be fed table scraps, treats, and healthy snacks in addition to their daily feed, but the quantities need to be controlled to keep your flock healthy.

If given the chance, chickens will also forage for some of their own food. Some chicken breeds are better foragers than others when it comes to free-ranging for their own food. Ducks on the other hand, prefer to forage for a majority of their own diet. They can be fed the same feed as chickens, but their dietary needs are slightly different in that they often need more protein and niacin in their diet.

Some complete feeds, such as Grubbly's Fresh Pecks, can be fed to both laying hens and ducks. With a healthy mix of insects, vegetables, whole grains, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics, you can keep both your chickens and your ducks happily nourished. The feed is formulated with 34 milligrams of niacin (vitamin B3) per pound. If your ducks need extra niacin, brewer's yeast is a great supplement to their diet.

Ducks vs Chickens: Water

One of the biggest differences when it comes to raising chickens or ducks is their water needs! Both chickens and ducks need to have access to clean drinking water. With chickens, that's all they need. With ducks, they need a little more water to keep them healthy and happy. At a minimum, ducks need to be able to dunk their whole head into water on a daily basis in order to clear their nasal passages. They should also have access to water that they can bath in on a regular basis.

Ducks are much happier when they have access to a water source that they can bath and play in, not just drink from. Keeping water clean for ducks is a lot harder than for chickens since ducks actually get in their water. Having a permanent water source, like a pond, lake, or river is ideal for raising ducks. However, a man-made water source will also do as long as you don't mind cleaning it on a daily basis!

Ducks vs Chickens: Health

In general, chickens are more susceptible to disease than ducks. Chickens thrive under controlled conditions that are kept dry and clean. Both young chicks and adult chickens need to have their immune systems built-up gradually so that they can resist the different diseases and pathogens found in their natural environment.

Ducks are known to be more disease resistant than chickens. They seem to naturally have a stronger immune system, which may be influenced by the fact that they love wet environments. Both ducklings and adult ducks are hardier and can have less health ailments than chickens.

Ducks vs Chickens: Availability

With backyard chicken keeping on the rise, finding a source for acquiring your first flock of chickens is not that hard! Raising ducks hasn't seen quite as big of a surge, but you can still usually find ducklings sold right alongside chicks at farm stores. Baby chicks are often cheaper than ducklings and many times they can be sexed before they are sold. Ducklings are usually sold as a straight run (not sexed) and are more expensive than chicks.

Despite there being a wide variety of duck breeds, you don't often have very many choices when it comes to buying ducklings locally or even from online hatcheries. If you are looking to acquire heritage or rare duck breeds, you may have to find a breeder. Finding a wide variety of chicken breeds to choose from is usually easier and you may have more choices to choose from. Keep in mind that you should buy chicks or ducklings from reputable sources if you want to raise a healthy, productive flock with good longevity.

Add to Your Feathered Family!

Raising chickens or ducks (or both) can be a fun and educational experience! Each species has its perks, but you will have to take into consideration the subtle differences in care. When choosing one over the other, consider which species best fits your backyard or homestead!

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Backyard Chickens vs Ducks: Comparing the Pros and Cons

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Chickens or ducks? Or both? Knowing the difference between raising chickens and ducks is essential to help you decide which species is the best fit for you. Both types have their special features and differing care needs. Let's see how raising backyard ducks compares to raising backyard chickens!

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If you are confused and cannot decide whether to plant Sunflower or French Lavender here are

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When it comes to horticultural icons, few flowers come close to the feelings inspired by the tulip and the sunflower. Tulips are harbingers of spring, announcing that winter is over and warm weather is ahead. Sunflowers, on the other hand, stand for long, hot days and mild nights. Although they are both flowers, there are few plants so different as the tulip and the sunflower. They both have blossoms and leaves, but they have very little else in common.

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Difference Between Sunflowers & Tulips. When it comes to horticultural icons, few flowers come close to the feelings inspired by the tulip and the sunflower. Tulips are harbingers of spring, announcing that winter is over and warm weather is ahead. Sunflowers, on the other hand, stand for long, hot days and mild ...

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The sunflower ( Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae, with a large flower head ( capitulum). The stem of the flower can grow up to 3 metres tall, with a flower head that can be 30 cm wide. Other types of sunflowers include the California Royal Sunflower, which has a burgundy ( red + purple) flower head.

The flower head is actually an inflorescence made of hundreds or thousands of tiny flowers called florets. The central florets look like the centre of a normal flower, and the outer florets look like yellow petals. All together they make up a "false flower" or pseudanthium. The benefit to the plant is that it is very easily seen by the insects and birds which pollinate it, and it produces thousands of seeds.

The sunflower is the state flower of Kansas. That is why Kansas is sometimes called the Sunflower State. To grow well, sunflowers need full sun. They grow best in fertile, wet, well-drained soil with a lot of mulch. In commercial planting, seeds are planted 45 cm (1.5 ft) apart and 2.5 cm (1 in) deep.

Description

The outer petal-bearing florets are the sterile florets and can be yellow, red, orange, or other colours. The florets inside the circular head are called disc florets, which mature into seeds.

The flower petals within the sunflower's cluster are always in a spiral pattern. Generally, each floret is oriented toward the next by approximately the golden angle, 137.5°, producing a pattern of interconnecting spirals, where the number of left spirals and the number of right spirals are successive Fibonacci numbers. Typically, there are 34 spirals in one direction and 55 in the other; on a very large sunflower there could be 89 in one direction and 144 in the other.

Sunflowers commonly grow to heights between 1.5 and 3.5 m (5-12 ft.). The tallest sunflower confirmed by Guinness World Records is 9.17 m (2014, Germany). In 16th century Europe the record was already 7.3 m (24 ft., Spain). Most cultivars are variants of H. annuus, but four other species (all perennials) are also domesticated. This includes H. tuberosus, the Jerusalem Artichoke, which produces edible tubers.

Sunflower "whole seed" (fruit) are sold as a snack food, after roasting in ovens, with or without salt added. Sunflowers can be processed into a peanut butter alternative, Sunbutter. In Germany, it is mixed together with rye flour to make Sonnenblumenkernbrot (literally: sunflower whole seed bread), which is quite popular in German-speaking Europe. It is also sold as food for birds and can be used directly in cooking and salads. Sunflower oil, extracted from the seeds, is used for cooking, as a carrier oil and to produce margarine and biodiesel, as it is cheaper than olive oil. A range of sunflower varieties exist with differing fatty acid compositions; some 'high oleic' types contain a higher level of healthy monounsaturated fats in their oil than Olive oil.

The cake remaining after the seeds have been processed for oil is used as a livestock feed. Some recently developed cultivars have drooping heads. These cultivars are less attractive to gardeners growing the flowers as ornamental plants, but appeal to farmers, because they reduce bird damage and losses from some plant diseases. Sunflowers also produce latex and are the subject of experiments to improve their suitability as an alternative crop for producing hypoallergenic rubber. Traditionally, several Native American groups planted sunflowers on the north edges of their gardens as a "fourth sister" to the better known three sisters combination of corn, beans, and squash. Annual species are often planted for their allelopathic properties. Sunflowers may also be used to extract toxic ingredients from soil, such as lead, arsenic and uranium. They were used to remove uranium, cesium-137, and strontium-90 from soil after the Chernobyl disaster (see phytoremediation).

Images for kids

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The sunflower ( Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae, with a large flower head ( capitulum). The stem of the flower can grow up to 3 metres tall, with a flower head that can be 30 cm wide.

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With the pots on a nice warm windowsill, it won't be long before you see the seedlings coming through.

Once the risk of frost has passed outside, you simply need to plant them where they are going to flower. Then it is time to watch the magic!

Growing sunflowers in the ground

Growing sunflowers in the ground is equally as easy as in pots. Some gardeners favour this way over growing them in pots but then you lose out on growing them indoors with the children whilst the weather is still cooler outside.

You will want to sow your sunflower seeds when the soil has warmed up and the risk of frost has passed. This is going to be around mid April to May - although there can be late frosts even then.

Sow the seeds around 2cm deep into the soil leaving approximately 15cm in between each plant. You can sow more seeds than that but you will need to thin them when the plants are around 15cm high. This will ensure that they have enough space to grow.

Keep the seedlings well watered until they are established and provide support for the plants. You may want to consider netting when sowing directly into the ground as birds or squirrels may take the seeds as a tasty snack!

Growing and caring for Sunflowers

Where do sunflowers like to grow?

Sunflowers like to grow in a position that gets full sun. They are not too fussy on the soil type either. One thing that you should be careful of is that the soil is not waterlogged. However, with sunflowers being a plant that grows in the summer, this is not that likely.

Sunflowers, when established, can tolerate short periods of drought. However, to maintain good healthy plants, you are going to want to keep them watered.

How often should I water my sunflowers?

Sunflowers, will require regular watering if the weather is dry. Generally, for established plants a deep watering once a week will suffice. If you are experiencing heat wave, it is best to increase the frequency. When growing the sunflowers for seeds, make sure that they are watered slightly more 2 weeks prior to flowering.

If your garden has quick draining soil in it, ensure that you work compost into the ground in the area that the sunflowers will be growing. This will help with moisture retention.

How easy is it to grow sunflowers?

Easy. Sometimes it can be tricky to get the plants established but once they are in the ground growing and supported, the plant will look after itself if it is kept watered.

Some different types of sunflowers that you can grow

Russian Giant

Height: Up to 3 Metres

This variety of sunflower really does live up to its name. Grown in the right conditions, you will have a plant that is 3M tall and flowers that are up to 30cm in diameter. This sunflower will get any child excited about growing in the garden.

Buy yours now from Amazon or Thompson & Morgan

Teddy Bear Sunflowers

Height: 45cm

These sunflowers are just lovely. You wouldn't actually know that they are sunflowers if you hadn't come across them before. They look great in borders and in containers.

Buy yours now from Amazon or Thompson & Morgan

Sunflower ' Earth Walker'

Height: Up to 270cm

These sunflowers will reach heights of between 6 to 9 ft, making them ideal for children. Rather than the traditional yellow colour, these will produce multiple heads off one plant in a bronze/orange colour. Perhaps something to give a go this year?

Buy yours now from Thompson & Morgan

Sunflower 'Elite Sun' F1 Hybrid

Height: Up to 120cm

If you are short on space in the garden, this sunflower could be the one for you. It has a very large head on it but will only grow approximately 4ft high. Great for beds and borders but can also be grown in containers.

Buy yours now from Thompson & Morgan

Sunflower 'Van Gogh'

Height: 150cm

The iconic Van Gogh sunflower. A great medium sized sunflower that will produce many flowers. They are an absolute favourite for the birds and the bees that come into the garden. Children will certainly not be disappointed when growing these in the garden.

Buy yours now from Thompson & Morgan

How can children get involved in growing sunflowers?

Sunflowers really are a great plant for children to grow. The rate of growth along with the wow factor when the flowers come out is just somewhat magical. It is great to have a couple of varieties growing in the garden; a few giant sunflowers (great for a competition) and also some multi flowering varieties for cut flowers and appearance.

Sowing the seeds

Oh the fun of sowing the seeds. What's great about sowing sunflowers is the size of the seeds. They are very suitable (with adult supervision) for younger children to plant sunflower seeds. Also, because you can literally take a seeds and then poke it into the soil, it's a great starting plant as you don't need to know the technical information about gardening.

Harvesting

It's always a sad moment when the sunflowers finish for the year. However, for the bird lovers amongst you, the seeds from the sunflower plant can be used for bird feed. You will need quite a few of these but if you have the space it is a great autumn activity too.

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How to Grow Sunflowers - Kids Do Gardening

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With the pots on a nice warm windowsill, it won't be long before you see the seedlings coming through. Once the risk of frost has passed outside, you simply need to plant them where they are going to flower. Then it is time to watch the magic!

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What do Bees Need to Survive? - Complete Beehives

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Like humans, bees need certain things in order to survive. Because bees have lived on their own for millions of years, you may not have given it much thought. But without these 3 main things, a bee colony will be doomed. So, what do bees need to survive?

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Honey bee ( Apis mellifera)
Also known as the European Honey Bee or Western Honey Bee

What they look like: Honey bee is a widely distributed flying insect know for its ability to collect nectar from flowers and produce honey. Honey bees (right) are mustard yellow and brown. They have stocky bodies that are covered with many hairs to which pollen adheres.

The honey bee's primary value is as a pollinator of crops.

Where they live:
The most commonly recognized honey bee species, Apis mellifera, is native to Africa and Europe.

Honey bees are not native to the Americas but were introduced by European settlers. The first introductions are believed to have occurred in the early to mid 1600s by English and Spanish settlers.

What they eat: Honey bees harvest nectar and pollen from flowering plants. They are not attracted to meats like the yellowjackets that show up at picnics.

Behavior:

Honey bees are social insects that live in large colonies. The queen bee, drones and worker bees all have specific tasks to help support the colony. The queen bee lays hundreds of eggs. The male drones' main function is to be ready to fertilize a receptive queen. Worker bees do all the different tasks needed to operate and maintain the hive.

Reproduction:

The queen bee lays all of the eggs in a colony. At the height of the season, she may lay over 2,500 eggs per day!

The queen fertilizes each egg as it is being laid. The queen occasionally will not fertilize an egg. These non-fertilized eggs develop into male drones.

Did you know?

Bees have 5 eyes and 6 legs.

Honey bees harvest nectar and pollen from flowering plants.

Male bees in the hive are called drones and they do not have a stinger.

Worker bees are females. They do all the different tasks needed to operate and maintain the hive.

Honey bees live in large groups called colonies.

An average beehive can hold around 50,000 bees.

Honey bee collecting nectar. photo by Tim Knight

More information:
Bee and Wasp Stings
Honey bee information Site

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NatureMapping is a hands-on environmental science and education program linking kids, communities and professionals.

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Calling all budding - or should we say buzz-ing - young naturalists! Join National Geographic Kids as we get the lowdown on one of our planet's most fascinating insects in our ten facts about h oney bees!

Facts about honey bees

1. Honey bees are super-important pollinators for flowers, fruits and vegetables. This means that they help other plants grow! Bees transfer pollen between the male and female parts, allowing plants to grow seeds and fruit.

2. Honey bees live in hives (or colonies). The members of the hive are divided into three types:

Queen: One queen runs the whole hive. Her job is to lay the eggs that will spawn the hive's next generation of bees. The queen also produces chemicals that guide the behaviour of the other bees.

Workers: these are all female and their roles are to forage for food (pollen and nectar from flowers), build and protect the hive, clean and circulate air by beating their wings. Workers are the only bees most people ever see flying around outside the hive.

Drones: These are the male bees, and their purpose is to mate with the new queen. Several hundred live in each hive during the spring and summer. But come winter, when the hive goes into survival mode, the drones are kicked out!

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3. What are these buzzing bugs most famous for? Delicious 4. If the queen bee dies, workers will create a new queen by selecting a young larva (the newly hatched baby insects) and feeding it a special food called " royal jelly". This enables the larva to develop into a fertile queen. honey! But did you know they produce honey as food stores for the hive during winter? Luckily for us, these efficient little workers produce 2-3 time more honey than they need, so we get to enjoy the tasty treat, too!

5. Honey bees are fab flyers. They fly at a speed of around 25km per hour and beat their wings 200 times per second!

6. Each bee has 170 odorant receptors, which means they have one serious sense of smell! They use this to communicate within the hive and to recognise different types of flowers when looking for food.

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable 'Buzz about bees' primary resource, all about these awesome insects? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

7. The average worker bee lives for just five to six weeks. During this time, she'll produce around a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey.

8. The queen can live up to five years. She is busiest in the summer months, when she can lay up to 2,500 eggs a day!

9. Honey bees are also brilliant boogiers! To share information about the best food sources, they perform their ' waggle dance '. When the worker returns to the hive, it moves in a figure-of-eight and waggles its body to indicate the direction of the food source. Cool, huh?

10. Sadly, over the past 15 years, colonies of bees have been disappearing, and the reason remains unknown. Referred to as 'colony collapse disorder', billions of honey bees across the world are leaving their hives, never to return. In some regions, up to 90% of bees have disappeared!

We can all do our bit to support these brilliant bugs, gang! Why not plant flowers rich in nectar, such as lavender and bluebells, which will help bees find the food they need? And when your family are buying honey, try to choose varieties that are locally made, to support our honey bees and their beekeepers!

If you enjoyed learning about honey bees, check out these insect articles! Learn 25 cool things about bugs, discover cool ladybird facts, ant facts and dung beetle facts, or find out about the butterfly life cycle!

What did you think of our facts about honey bees? Let us know by leaving us a comment, below!

Images ⓒ Getty Images: Bees on honeycomb, (81154415). Picture of a honeybee on a pink flower: Photograph by Manfredxy, Dreamstime. Picture of a honeybee on a purple flower: Photograph by Daniel Vincek, Dreamstime. Picture of a honeybee on a white background: Photograph by Daniel Vincek, Dreamstime.

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10 facts about honey bees! | National Geographic Kids

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Join us here at National Geographic Kids as we check out ten facts about honey bees! Find out what they eat, how they communicate & why...

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase using some of my links.

Bees are fascinating creatures, and essential for life on Earth. If you are doing a school project about bees, these fun bee facts for kids will come in handy!

Amazing bee facts for kids

Did you know...

Bees have 6 legs, 4 wings, and FIVE eyes!

As well as two large eyes either side of its head, a bee has three tiny 'simple' eyes on the top of its head. These little extra eyes can only detect light, not shapes, and they're there to help a bee sense if it is being approached by a predator from above.

Think that's the strangest thing about bee eyes? Their two main eyes are hairy! Scientists think the tiny hairs help the bee figure out wind direction so that they can stay safe in flight.

Bees flap their wings up to 250 times per second

The buzz you hear as a bee bumbles past is caused by its wings vibrating. Bees have two pairs of wings. When they fly, they hook their back wings to their front wings for added flight power. Their wings flap between 180 and 250 times per second - that's up to FIFTEEN THOUSAND flaps per minute! This incredible speed creates tiny hurricanes, which help lift the bee's heavy body. You can see a slow motion video of a bee in flight here.

Honeybees communicate by dancing

When a bee discovers a particularly good source of nectar and pollen, they want to tell everyone else all about it. They do this by performing a special dance called a waggle dance. By turning in circles and waggling their bottoms, they can let other bees know exactly how far and in what direction to fly to find the same flowers. There's an amazing video of a bee's waggle dance here.

There are 20,000 different species of bee in the world

...and around 2000 of those species are native to Australia. Of Australia's 2000 native bee species, the largest is the carpenter bee at 24mm long, and the smallest is the Quasihesma bee at only 2mm long.

The bees we get most of our honey from are not native to Australia. The European honey bee was introduced in 1822.
If you would like some bee stickers to embellish your facts about bees school project, click here.
Bees can be many colours

We always think of bees as being black and yellow, but they really come in many colours. In Australia we have bees that are blue and black striped, blue with black dots, green, brown, and even a shimmering rainbow colour!

Not all bees live in hives

It's a popular misconception that all bees live in beehives, but there are lots of species of solitary bee. Apiarists - that's the fancy name for beekeepers - build hives for their honeybees so that it is easier to gather the honey, comb, and wax. In the wild, social bees will build nests in hollow logs or hanging from branches, and solitary bees will burrow underground or sleep inside plants.

Life inside a beehive

Social bees that live in hives have a very well organised home. Everyone has a job to do. This is who lives in a honeybee colony.

The queen bee

The queen bee is the most important bee in the hive. Her job is to lay eggs and make sure everyone in the hive is happy. Here are some quick queen bee facts:

There is only one queen in the colony

The queen bee lives around 1-2 years, although one queen bee was known to live almost 8 years

The queen bee lays around 1000 eggs per day, and up to 1.5 MILLION in her lifetime!

All the bees in the hive are the queen's children

Worker bees

All the bees that live in the hive are female. They do ALL the work and their jobs change as they get older. There can be around 40,000 to 50,000 worker bees living in one hive. The female worker bees...

clean and maintain the hive

feed the larvae, drones (males) and queen

forage for pollen, nectar and water

make wax and build the honeycomb

make all the honey

guard the hive from predators

live up to 38 days in summer, when there is so much work to be done

live up to 6 months over winter while they wait for the new spring flowers

Drones

Drones are male bees. There can be a few hundred drones that belong to a colony, but they don't live in the hive. Instead, they live up to 5km away in "drone zones", 3-10 metres above the ground. Their only job is to mate with the queen, after which they die.

What happens inside a beehive

The worker bees have different jobs according to their age. The youngest worker bees, up to around 15 days old, build honeycomb and look after the larvae. The queen lays up to 1000 eggs per day, so there are a lot of eggs and larvae to look after.

Honeycomb is made up of hexagonal cells built from wax. Worker bees make the wax themselves in glands in their abdomens. Some of the honeycomb is used as "brood comb". This is where the queen lays her eggs. The rest of the honeycomb is used to store food like honey and pollen.

From around 15 days old the worker bees are old enough for 'field duties' - collecting nectar, pollen, and water to feed all the other bees. They will work all day, every day.

Bees are natural scientists and engineers

The hexagonal shape of the cells makes the honeycomb very strong. Engineers have learned from bees and use the honeycomb shape in many projects where a strong structure is required.

Bees also know how to convert nectar to honey. When bees forage, they suck up nectar from flowers and store it in their honey stomachs. When they get back to the hive, they use their long tongue to transfer this nectar to other bees, who store it in the honeycomb. Bees add enzymes to the nectar to make it change into honey, and flap their wings to evaporate the excess moisture. When the comb is full of good honey, they seal it with a wax cap until it's needed.

More fun bee facts

Bees have been around for almost 30 million years

Bees will forage up to 5 km from their colony to collect food

They collect pollen in little sacs on their back legs, and suck nectar through their straw-like tongues to carry in their honey stomach

A hive needs around 125 kg of honey and 32 kg of pollen to feed its colony for one year

To make one kilogram of honey, bees need to make approximately 150,000 flights, covering between 150,000 and 450,000 kilometres, and visit more than one million flowers

One worker bee will make less than 1/2 a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime

Bees navigate using the sun

Some Australian bees have developed night vision so they can forage when fewer predators are around

Bees can fly at speeds up to 30 km per hour

Bees know when it's going to rain. They work extra hard the day before, and seal the hive entrance with wax to keep the rain out

Bees can see ultraviolet light, so colours look different to bees. Maybe this is why purple flowers are their favourite!

Bees can't see the colour red

Bees regulate the temperature of their hives by vibrating their bodies to warm it up, or flapping their wings to cool it down

Male bees can't sting

Female bees will only sting if they sense danger. A bee can only sting once, and then it dies. If you are stung, scrape the sting out of your skin and apply a little honey or pure aloe vera gel to ease the pain. Some people can be allergic to bee stings, so monitor for signs of anaphylaxis

Honey never goes off. You can safely eat honey that is hundreds of years old

Raw honey that hasn't been processed or pasteurised will naturally crystallise. Crystallised honey is still good to eat, and can be made liquid again by gently warming it

World Bee Day is celebrated every year on May 20, in honour of how important the little bee is

Bees are essential to life

Many of the items we grow for food, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and some cereal grains require pollination.

As bees fly from flower to flower, pollen gets stuck to the tiny hairs on their bodies and deposited on other flowers nearby. This enables the flowers to develop into the foods we - and other animals - need to survive.

Bees are so important to this process that beekeepers take their hives across Australia to pollinate farmers' fields and orchards so that we have plenty of fresh produce in our supermarkets.

The largest annual migration of livestock in Australia happens every August when BILLIONS of bees are moved to Victoria's almond orchards to pollinate the almond trees. On their way back to their homes, beekeepers will stop off at Canola fields and other agricultural areas so that the bees can pollinate even more essential crops for farmers.

Without bees, many of the fresh fruits and vegetables that we love could become extinct. You can make sure Australia always has lots of bees for agriculture by buying Australian honey
Did you know...
How to be bee friendly

Bees are such good friends to people, so we should be good to them too!

Plant a bee-friendly garden

Bees love purple flowers like lavender, and flowers that have big open faces like daisies that are easy to land on. Bees will need to forage for food all year round, so be sure to plant some flowers that flower in winter too.

Provide resting places in the shade by making a bee hotel. A bee hotel can be made by filling a terracotta plant pot with bamboo canes and laying it on its side facing the sun.

The bees would also appreciate a bee-bath for a safe place to land for a drink of fresh water. You can make a bee-bath by filling a shallow dish with water and placing lots of flat pebbles in it for the bees to land on.

More facts for kids

If you are looking for more great facts for kids to help with projects, check out our articles:

Animal facts for kids
If you would like to read more about bees, check out these great bee books for kids.
Environment facts for kids

Other facts for kids

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase using some of my links. Bees are fascinating creatures, and essential for life on Earth. If you are doing a school project about bees, these fun bee facts for kids will come in handy!

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Learn All About Frogs and Toads | Facts for Kids

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The frog life cycle

Frogs are animal athletes, with strong powerful legs that allow them to leap out of harm's way. These powerful limbs are the secret to their success - and incredibly, it takes baby frogs weeks and weeks to grow them!

Like beautiful butterflies, frogs and toads undergo an astonishing transformation - which is called ' metamorphosis' - as they grow up. From jelly-like eggs laid in water, they grow into wriggling tadpoles, and finally grow legs suitable for land!

But how does this mesmerising metamorphosis work? Let's have a look at each stage of the frog life cycle in turn, to find out...

Stage 1: Extraordinary eggs

It all starts with adult frogs laying hundreds of tiny eggs, which clump together in groups known as frogspawn. This happens in early spring, when the weather is just starting to get warmer. Spotting frogspawn is often thought of as being a key sign of spring!

You can hunt for frogspawn in shallow, still water - a garden pond, for example! As the eggs are defenceless, they're usually laid among vegetation and just below the surface of the water, to give them some protection.

If you're lucky enough to spot some of these strange eggs, pay attention to their shape. Frogs lay 'frogspawn', which looks like a round cluster of eggs, while toads lay 'toadspawn', which comes in long ribbons.

DID YOU KNOW?
As far as scientists are concerned, there's no difference between frogs and toads! They have different characteristics, but share the same family tree.

In the frogspawn, the baby frogs start out as tiny black dots surrounded by a jelly-like substance. Over time, they become comma-shaped, as their tails begin to develop - amazing!

Stage 2: Teeny tadpoles!

After spending 1-3 weeks eating the yolk of their egg, the baby frog hatches into the big, wide world.

Now, the baby frogs are known as tadpoles. They have gills, a mouth, and a long tail, which they need for swimming!

DID YOU KNOW?
The tadpole stage of the frog life cycle is also known as the larval stage. Tadpoles are frog larvae, in the same way that caterpillars are butterfly larvae!

For the first week or two after hatching, tadpoles won't move around very much, as they're still absorbing some nutrition from the yolk of their egg. However, once the yolk is all gone, the tadpoles are big and strong enough to venture out into their watery world!

Unlike adult frogs, tadpoles can't go on land - so they feed on plant material filteredfrom the water, and tear off tiny chunks of nearby vegetation.

The legless, water-bound tadpoles slowly metamorphose into frogs over the next 14 weeks.

First, they grow back legs, then front legs too! Soon after, their body starts to change shape, and they're able to start eating insects.

Next, the tadpoles' tails shrink away, and skin grows over their gills, as they develop lungs and eardrums! These are super important steps, as they prepare the tadpole for life on land.

Once their gills and tails are gone forever, tadpoles undergo one last 24-hour push, where the metamorphosis completes. Once this stage is finished, the baby frogs emerge from the water as tiny adults!

Amazingly, tadpoles are able to control the timing of their transformation. If they're living in a dangerous environment, like a pond full of hungry fish, they will metamorphose more quickly, to make their escape! On the other hand, if their pond has lots of plants to munch through, and few predators - or if it's extra cold on land - tadpoles can delay their metamorphosis, and remain in the water for up to a year. Wow!

Stage 3: Fully-grown frog!

And there you have it - the frogs are all grown up, and ready to head out into the big wide world!

As adults, frogs and toads are much less reliant on water. So long as they stick to the shade and don't dry out, they can live on land - but they often return to ponds and lakes for a splash!

Before too long, the females will look for water to lay her own eggs. Once that's happened, the life cycle is complete - what a frog-tastic life they lead!

Thanks to S. Hermann & F. Richter; Jill Wellington; PollyDot; David Clode, and Venita Oberholster for the images used in this article.

Have you ever found frogspawn, or spotted a frog? Let us know in the comments below!

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The Frog Life Cycle for Kids - National Geographic Kids

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Frogs are animal athletes, with strong powerful legs that allow them to leap out of harm's way. These powerful limbs are the secret to their success - and incredibly, it takes baby frogs weeks and weeks to grow them! Like beautiful butterflies, frogs and toads undergo an astonishing transformation - which is called ' metamorphosis' - as they grow up.

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Frogs are small animals that can jump very well. Frogs are similar to toads. However, a frog has smooth skin and long legs. A toad has rough skin and shorter legs. Frogs are…

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Butterflies are cold-blooded and need the light from the sun to warm the muscles they use to fly. Not only do butterflies like the sun, the plants the they thrive on need full direct sun. Most plants need at least 8 hours of sunlight to bloom properly and provide enough nectar.

Do butterflies need water to live?

Monarchs and other butterflies need moisture but cannot land on water to drink, so a typical garden pond, fountain or birdbath won't help them. Instead, butterflies sip liquid from muddy soil.

What features do butterflies need to survive and be comfortable?

Butterflies are cold-blooded which means that they cannot adjust their own body temperature for the weather conditions. In order to survive, they must live in generally comfortable temperatures where it does not get too hot or too cold.

What conditions do butterflies like?

Butterflies enjoy warmth. Try to pick out spots where the sun hits to cultivate your plants. Butterflies also need room to fly, so create a flowerbed full of nectar-rich plants alongside an open area of patio or lawn.

What do butterflies live on?

Butterflies feed on nectar, usually from flowers, so they will only live in areas where there is food for them to eat.

What Do Butterflies Need? (Where Do Our Butterflies Come From & Butterfly Care) | Curious By Nature

Do butterflies need air?

Adult butterflies, as well as caterpillars, breathe through a series of tiny openings along the sides of their bodies, called "spiracles." From each spiracle, a tube called a "trachea" carries oxygen into the body. Butterflies don't have noses and lungs as we do. Butterflies "smell" with their antennae.

How do you keep a butterfly alive in a jar?

Wet a paper towel with warm water and set it on the bottom of a glass jar with a lid. Pour in 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of antiseptic like Lysol into the bottom to prevent mold from forming. Set the butterfly in the jar and seal it for 2-7 days.

What do I feed a butterfly?

They especially like to eat rotting grapefruits, oranges, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, apples, and bananas. Add a little bit of water or fruit juice to your sliced fruit to keep it desirably moist. Make a butterfly feeder.

Can butterflies survive rain?

Rain doesn't harm butterflies. They live through storms. But they rarely fly in heavy rain. Instead, they land and wait for the rain to stop and for their bodies to dry before they fly again.

Do butterflies need flowers?

Butterflies are important pollinators.

Flower nectar is the food for adult butterflies and by flying from flower to flower sipping nectar, pollination occurs.

Can butterflies survive indoors?

The butterfly can be released as soon as it is able to fly or it can stay indoors for about 24 hours and then it will need to be released to find some butterfly food (nectar).

Can I keep a butterfly as a pet?

Care and housing. Caterpillars make great pets, both for children and for adults. Butterflies are also terrific pets as long as their special needs regarding flying space and food are met.

Is it OK to touch a butterfly's wings?

"Excessive handling is not good for butterflies, it's not great to touch them; but a lot of time you can gently catch them in your hands and they will fly away and be just fine," Tom Green County Horticulturist Allison Watkins said.

What happens if a butterfly gets wet?

If they do get wet, they simply remain still until the water evaporates off their body. They often bask in the sun to dry their wings.

How many hearts does a butterfly have?

Yes, butterflies and all other insects have both a brain and a heart. The center of a butterfly's nervous system is the subesophageal ganglion and is located in the insect's thorax, not its head. The butterfly has a long chambered heart that runs the length of its body on the upper side.

How do you keep butterflies indoors?

Keep adding stems of their host plant, whatever it is, to the vase or your container to make sure they can eat til they are ready to make the transformation into their pupate form which is when they enclose themselves and make the final transformation into butterfly. Google has been super helpful to me too this summer.

How long do butterflies live indoors?

They can live for up to two weeks in your cage, but we recommend that you release them on the first nice day that comes along.

How can you tell if a butterfly is dying?

Depending on the species they may live a few weeks to a few months. At the end of their lives, butterflies may become weak or slow, unable to fly. An older individual will often look tattier as well, such as having less colour on their wings.

Do butterflies poop?

Adult butterflies do not urinate or defecate (or "go to the bathroom"). The larval life stage - the caterpillar - does all of the eating, and caterpillars almost continually defecate. Interestingly, when there enough caterpillars eating in the same place, their defecation is audible. That is, you can hear the poop!

What are 5 interesting facts about butterflies?

10 Fascinating Facts about Butterflies

Butterfly wings are transparent. ...

There are almost 20,000 butterfly species. ...

Butterflies use their feet to taste. ...

Butterflies only live for a few weeks. ...

The most common butterfly in the US is the Cabbage White. ...

Some butterfly species migrate from the cold.

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Butterflies are cold-blooded and need the light from the sun to warm the muscles they use to fly. Not only do butterflies like the sun, the plants the they thrive on need full direct sun. Most plants need at least 8 hours of sunlight to bloom properly and provide enough nectar.

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i John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images

New species of butterflies still are being discovered, but scientists estimate the number of species worldwide to be between 12,000 and 15,000. Butterflies and Moths of North America estimates approximately 750 species exist in the United States and Canada. In comparison, the butterflies' close relatives, moths, number approximately 150,000 to 250,000 worldwide, and around 11,000 in the United States and Canada.

Butterflies live worldwide except the arctic. Nearly anywhere with nectar-producing flowers will host butterflies. Some species live in the deserts and feed upon the succulent plants that grow in the harsh conditions. Empress leillia (Asterocampa leillia) and elada checkerspot (Texola elada) are two desert-dwelling species. Others, such as the blue morphos (Morpho peleides), live in dense rainforests, feeding off the flowering plants and trees. Still others inhabit meadows and temperate prairies, fluttering from wildflower to wildflower.

The largest factor playing into butterfly habitat is a species' food source. Butterflies, like many other creatures, are host-specific, meaning they feed on one or a few specific plants. Adults often will flutter about to many plants, but the larvae are much more specific. The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), for example, feeds exclusively on milkweed (Asclepias spp.). The similarly colored viceroy (Basilarchia archippus) prefers willows (Salix spp.) and cottonwood (Populus spp.). Common hairstreaks (Strymon melinus) have a few favorite hosts, including false indigo (Amorpha spp.), hops (Humulus spp.) and hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.).

Climate is another major factor in butterfly habitat. Some species may remain in an area throughout their life, but others are migratory. Some southern species migrate north during the spring; these include painted lady (Vanessa cardui), a few skippers (Hesperiidae family), common buckeye (Junonia coenia) and red admiral (Vanessa atalanta). Other species, however, migrate during the fall, including monarchs, question marks (Polygonia interrogationis), queens (Danaus gilippus) and mourning cloaks (Nymphalis antiopa). Although migration is studied, particularly in monarchs, there is much to be learned about the migratory patterns.

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Nearly everyone can recognize a butterfly fluttering past on a summer's day, flying from flower to flower in its quest for nectar. These scaled-wing insects are known worldwide, although many are suffering the effects of habitat destruction and loss. Common butterfly habitats are everywhere, ...

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Life Cycle of a butterfly | Butterflies for Kids | Learn the 4 stages of the butterfly life cycle

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The Life Cycle of a Butterfly - Science for Kids

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