Western Honey Bee

Natural Habitat

Meadows, open woodlands, gardens, and agricultural fields; primarily domesticated in hives but also found in hollow trees or rock crevices.

Diet & Feeding

Primarily nectar for energy and pollen for protein, collected from a wide variety of flowering plants.

Behavior Patterns

Eusocial insects living in complex colonies with a single queen, thousands of workers, and hundreds of drones. They communicate via waggle dances to alert colony members to food sources.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial as major pollinators for wildflowers and commercial crops; they also produce honey and wax. The main risk is a defensive sting that can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Identified on: 5/25/2026