
Community identification
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
- Order & Family
- Hymenoptera: Apidae
- Size
- 10 mm to 20 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Gardens, orchards, meadows, and areas with flowering plants; they nest in hollow trees, rock crevices, or man-made hives.
Diet & Feeding
Forage for nectar and pollen from a wide variety of flowering plants to produce honey and feed the colony.
Behavior Patterns
Highly social insects living in complex colonies. They exhibit sophisticated communication through 'waggle dances' and have a strict division of labor between the queen, workers, and drones.
Risks & Benefits
Crucial pollinators for crops and wild plants, providing immense ecological and economic benefits. They pose a risk of stinging if provoked, which can cause severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in sensitive individuals.