Bug Identifier
Honey Bee
Community identification

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Order & Family
Hymenoptera: Apidae
Size
10 mm to 20 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.