Honey bee
Honey bees are highly social flying insects in the genus Apis, best known for producing honey and living in large wax-built colonies.
Honey bees are social flying insects in the genus Apis, known for producing honey and living in wax-built colonies. The western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the best-known species and is widely managed for honey production and crop pollination.
Taxonomy and classification
Honey bees belong to the genus Apis in the tribe Apini. Sources differ slightly on the number of living species, but the group is consistently described as a small set of highly social bees.
Biology and colony life
Honey bees are eusocial insects that live in colonies built around a reproductive queen, worker bees, and drones. They make comb from wax and store honey as food for the colony.
Distribution and domestication
Honey bees originated in Afro-Eurasia, with Apis mellifera native to Europe, western Asia, and Africa. Humans later introduced managed populations to other continents for honey and pollination.
Human importance
Honey bees are among the best-known beneficial insects in agriculture. Their value comes from honey production, beeswax, and pollination services for crops and horticulture.
Key facts
- Honey bees are eusocial insects in the genus Apis that build wax combs and store honey.
- The western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the most economically important species.
- Honey bees are native to Afro-Eurasia but have been introduced worldwide.
- They are crucial pollinators for many crops and wild plants.
Honey bees are important in Canada for crop pollination and honey production, and managed Apis mellifera colonies are used widely in Canadian agriculture.
Frequently asked questions
What is a honey bee?
What is the scientific name of the honey bee?
How many species of honey bees are there?
Why are honey bees important?
Where are honey bees native to?
Do honey bees live alone?
References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/honeybeeSupports: Honey bees are social bees in tribe Apini; the genus Apis has seven species; Apis mellifera is the best-known species.
- GBIF — https://www.gbif.org/species/112858101Supports: Honey bees are eusocial insects in Apis; notes native range, global introductions, colony traits, and recognized species/subspecies counts.
- New World Encyclopedia — https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/HoneybeeSupports: Honeybees are members of Apis that produce and store honey and build wax nests; Apis mellifera is especially common.
- Harvard University — https://whatsinaname.hmnh.harvard.edu/beesSupports: Honey bees are highly social insects, Apis mellifera is commonly cultivated, and the group includes seven species.
- The Wildlife Trusts — https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/bees-and-wasps/honey-beeSupports: Honey bees live in wax honeycombs, have queens and workers, and are familiar colony-forming insects.
- National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/honeybeeSupports: Honey bees are social, important pollinators, and Apis mellifera is the common species used by humans.
- University of Georgia — https://bees.caes.uga.edu/beekeeping-resources/getting-started-topics/getting-started-honey-bee-biology.htmlSupports: Honey bees are economically important insects kept in managed hives for honey, beeswax, and pollination.
- Animal Diversity Web — https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Apis_mellifera/Supports: Apis mellifera native range and human introductions to other continents.