Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Honeybees are eusocial flying insects within the genus Apis, known for producing and storing honey, and are characterized by their distinctive bodies, including a hairy exoskeleton, six legs, two pairs of wings, and a stinger (modified ovipositor) present in females. Honeybees are eusocial flying insects within the genus Apis, known for producing and storing honey, and are characterized by their distinctive bodies, including a hairy exoskeleton, six legs, two pairs of wings, and a stinger (modified ovipositor) present in females. A honeybee colony consists of a queen (fertile female), worker bees (sterile females), and drones (males). Honeybees communicate through "dancing" (waggle dance) and scent to inform other members of the hive about the location, distance, and quality of food sources. They build nests (hives) in natural cavities or human-made structures, using wax secreted by worker bees.
Worker bees forage for nectar and pollen from flowers to produce honey and pollen for the colony. They convert nectar into honey, a sweet, viscous liquid, which they store in the hive. The queen bee is the largest, followed by worker bees, and then drones. Honeybees can fly at speeds of around 20 mph. The lifespan of a honeybee varies depending on their role in the colony; worker bees typically live for a few weeks in the summer and several months in the winter, while the queen can live for several years. There are three distinct forms of the honey bee: the queen (fertile female), the worker (sterile female), and the drone (male). Honeybees make their nests in trees and shrubs. Honeybee stings are often incapable of penetrating human skin, so the hive and swarms can be handled with minimal protection.