Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants,and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax.Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea,presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila.There are nearly 20,000 known species of bees in seven to nine recognized families,[1] though many are undescribed and the actual number is probably higher.They are found on every continent except Antarctica,in every habitat on the planet that contains insect-pollinated flowering plants.