Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
- Where
- Temperate and tropical regions worldwide
- Habitat
- Warm climates, open fields with flowers, forests, urban areas
- Diet
- Nectar from flowers, pollen, honey water (produced by colony)
- Size
- About 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) body length
- Lifespan
- Worker bees: 4-6 weeks, Queens: 3-5 years
- Conservation
- Critical pollinators; habitat loss, pesticides, climate change threaten populations
Fun Facts
- Honeybees communicate through complex dance patterns called waggle dances.
- A single honeybee colony can have up to 60,000 individuals.
- Beeswax produced by worker bees is used for hive construction.
Learn More
Distinctive yellow and black stripes help with identification.
Honeybees have specialized hairy bodies that collect pollen.
Compound eyes give them incredible vision with 300 degree view.