The European bee-eater is one of Iran’s most colorful and remarkable birds. It feeds on a wide variety of flying insects such as bees, wasps, dragonflies, butterflies, beetles, grasshoppers, and flies. By naturally controlling insect populations, the bird plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance, making it a natural form of pest control.

However, despite their ecological value, European bee-eaters continue to fall victim to misconceptions that they pose a serious threat to beekeeping, while studies show that other insects make up the bulk of their food.