World Bee Day 2024: What's all the buzz about?

Happy Bee Day! Bees are so important to the health of our planet that they have their own special day.

The event takes place on 20 May each year, to spread awareness of the significance of bees.

Bee campaigners are also asking people everywhere to do more to help and protect the special insects.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) is urging everyone including governments, companies, researchers and consumers to take action to help save the popular pollinators.

If you cannot see the interactivity on this page, click here.

So what's the buzz about bees?

A third of the world's food production depends on bees.

Bees pollinate (a process vital to crops growing) three quarters (75%) of leading global crops, including oilseed rape, apples, soft fruits, beans and courgettes, as well as things like tomatoes and strawberries.

Bees are vital for maintaining the balance between living organisms such as human beings, plants and animals as well as their environment.

They also help reduce pollution.

Scientific studies have proven that bees have become increasingly endangered. The UN said one million species face extinction in a report they released in 2015.

So what can be done to help?

• Planting bee-friendly plants like heather and daisies and red clover on balconies, terraces and in gardens can help

• Leaving sections of the garden wild and letting the grass grow long gives the bees a place to shelter

• Create a bee hotel for your garden's bee population

• Leaving a small dish with a few pebbles and shallow water in can help if a bee is thirsty

• There are also special bricks which bees can live in

• Don't use pesticides as they are really harmful to bees

• Buy honey and other hive products from your nearest local beekeeper

Now try Newsround's bee quiz to find out which bee you would be.