Bees are flying insects that come in over 20,000 species and play an essential role in pollination. They have yellow and black stripes and a unique breeding system. There are two main types of bees - solitary bees that live alone and communal bees that live in colonies. Honey bees live in large colonies with different roles like queens, drones, and workers. Workers make honey by collecting nectar from flowers and digesting and regurgitating it. Bees are vital pollinators for many crops but their populations are declining due to pesticides, parasites, and loss of habitat. Protecting bees is important for food security and ecosystems.