Bug Identifier
Honey bee
Community identification

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

Order & Family
Hymenoptera, Apidae
Size
10 to 15 millimeters in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found globally in diverse terrestrial environments including forests, meadows, and agricultural lands where flowering plants exist.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly nectar and pollen gathered from flowering plants.

Behavior Patterns

Highly social insects living in large colonies with a strict caste system; they communicate food sources through complex waggle dances.

Risks & Benefits

Essential pollinators for global agriculture and ecosystems, though they can deliver painful stings if provoked.