Western Honey Bee

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

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

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.

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.