<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/lemon_cuckoo.png?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/lemon_cuckoo.png?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/lemon_cuckoo.png?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > 1 of 14 Don't let this bee fool you! It may look familiar, but we dare you to guess its name. (Clay Bolt)

Did you know that there are over 4,000 known species of bees in North America ? There's a whole lot more than your common bumble bee and honey bee, which isn't even native to North America. According to National Geographic , the domesticated insects were brought to the continent by European settlers. Humans realized honey bees' worth thousands of years ago. PBS reported that humans have been keeping bees for honey and pollination purposes for at least 9,000 years .

But it's the undomesticated species, such as the metallic green bee, carpenter bees and mason bees that we should worry about when we talk about colony collapse disorder. These are important pollinators, but their work may be underrated. A study of 41 worldwide crop stystems showed that honeybees only increased yield in 14 percent of crops . The other 86 percent of pollination was the work of wild insects. Those wild pollinators are in danger; Science Magazine reported that global change over the last 120 years has led to the disappearance of 50 percent of Midwestern native bee species . In the last 20 years, four North American bumblebee species declined by 96 percent , and three species may already be extinct , according to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

(MORE: A World Without Bees )

Natural history photographer Clay Bolt statrted focusing on bees about three years ago, when he read about the peril of bees. Starting in his own garden, Bolt wanted to identify each species he was photographing.

"I was surprised to find that I had some difficulty finding a quick answer to which species I had photographed," Bolt told weather.com. "As it turned out, the species that I photographed weren't honey bees, but two different species of native North American bees. As I began to do more research, I realized that so little was known about our native species and decided to use my photography to begin to show people why they matter and how incredible they are."

Bolt thinks that there's a certain amount of misinformation leading to fear and intolerance of bees. Most species of bees don't sting , Wired.com reported.

(MORE: Can We Eat Without Bees and Butterflies? )

"In the short time that I've been obsessively involved with this project, I've learned so much," Bolt said. "The thing that surprises me the most is the sheer diversity of species, each having its own incredible array of behavior, some of which can rival anything that you might read in a science fiction novel."

Bolt spoke in particular about a species of North American bumble bee that has the unique ability to regulate its own body temperature, which allows it to fly during cooler months. The arctic bumble bee (Bombus polaris ) is even able to fly into the Alaskan arctic .

"I want people to realize that our native bees are not only important pollinators and beautiful animals, but also in need of our protection and care," the photographer said.

Click through the slideshow above to test your knowledge of North American bees. To learn more about Clay Bolt's work, click here .

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