Honey bees are valued for their production of honey and beeswax, as well as the large role they play in the pollination of plants and flowers. Czech Post devoted its special stamp to this species of bees that is so important for nature and people. Designed by Jaromír a Libuše Knotkovi, the issue features two honey bees, each on a different flower: one on a white flower, the other one on a pink flower.
Honey bees are flying insects, and close relatives of wasps and ants. They are one of the best-known representatives of social insects. The honey bees forage for nectar and pollen from flowering plants. The insects use the nectar collected to create honey. They live in large colonies with one queen, many sterile females workers and some male drones. In the wild honey bees nest in hollow trees. Queens live for several years, but summer-born workers live for only a few weeks. Those maturing later usually survive the winter by huddling together, with the queen, and eating stored food. Drones are turned out of the hive in autumn and left to die.
See also other stamps devoted to bees.
