honeybee

Honeybee refers to bees in the genus Apis, most notably Apis mellifera, known for producing honey and pollinating crops. They are eusocial insects that form colonies with one queen, many workers, and drones, typically living in hives or natural cavities.

The queen lays eggs in brood cells. Eggs hatch into larvae, which become pupae and emerge as workers (female) or drones (male). In summer, worker bees live several weeks; queens can live several years. Drones are produced seasonally for mating and usually die after mating or during winter.

Bees have a three-segment body, six legs, two pairs of wings, and antennae. They possess compound eyes and three simple eyes. They store nectar in a crop called a honey stomach and collect pollen with hind-leg baskets called corbiculae.

Colonies communicate through pheromones and the waggle dance, which conveys information about distance and direction to food sources. Foraging is influenced by flower availability, weather, and time of day. Bees regulate hive temperature and defend the colony from threats.

Honeybees are vital pollinators for many crops and wild plants, contributing to biodiversity and food production. Humans keep bees for honey, beeswax, and pollination services. Threats include Varroa mites, viral and microbial pathogens, pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change, which can impact colony health and productivity.

Apis mellifera has many subspecies, and other members of the genus include Apis cerana and Apis florea. Honeybees occur worldwide, in a range of habitats, from forests to urban gardens.