May 20 is World Bee Day! 

Although diminutive, bees underpin our food systems: close to three-quarters of the world’s crops depend, at least in part, on bees and other pollinators. In economic terms, natural pollinators contribute up to $577 billion to the global economy.
World Bee Day – Background | United Nations

 

With about 2,000 stamps devoted to the humble bee, it was a difficult choice picking stamps to celebrate them.  So I’ve picked a sampling from around the world. 

 Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis) and Bi-coloured Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon virescens)
From the Native Bees series
Issued by Canada Post May 1, 2018
Designer: Andrew Perro

 
100 Years of Bee Language
Issued by Austria March 29, 2023
Designer: Marion Füllerer

Bees
Issued by Djibouti Post September 26, 2016

Honey Bees
Issued by New Zealand March 2014
Designed by Strategy Design

The Forest Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus sylvestris)
Part the Bees series
Issued by Niger Post on August 15, 2016

Bees with a Heart
Part of the Autumn Greetings series
Issued by Japan Post September 11, 2015

Brazilian meliponinae bees
Issued by Brazil Post May 22, 2015
Designer: José Carlos Braga