Apis mellifera

Apis mellifera, commonly known as the western honey bee, is a species of honey bee native to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It is the most widely distributed of all honey bees, and has proven adaptable to most climates from subtropical to cool temperate, but it is less successful in humid tropical regions.

Taxonomy and lineage

Apis mellifera is a member of the genus Apis, which is Latin for "bee". The specific epithet mellifera is derived from Latin words mellis, meaning honey, and ferre, to bear, hence the scientific name can be translated as "honey-bearing bee". The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his seminal 1758 work Systema Naturae.

Description

The Apis mellifera is a eusocial insect that lives in colonies. The adult worker bee is about 12–15 mm long, with a slender body covered in hairs that appear golden-colored in sunlight. Worker bees are female but are not capable of reproduction. The queen bee is larger, capable of reaching 20 mm in length. Male bees, or drones, are larger and lack stingers.

Behavior

Apis mellifera colonies are highly structured with a single reproductive queen, a small number of male drones, and a large population of sterile female workers. The queen lays all of the eggs in a colony, and a single queen can lay up to 1,500 eggs in a day. The drones' primary role is to fertilize the queen, and they do not participate in nectar and pollen gathering. A worker bee's duties are divided into tasks related to the cleaning and maintenance of the hive, caring for the brood, guarding the hive and foraging.

Role in pollination

Apis mellifera plays a crucial role in the pollination of many plant species. It is the most commonly used species in commercial pollination and is often used in large-scale agricultural operations. The economic value of honey bees as pollinators is estimated to be in the billions of dollars annually.

Threats

The Apis mellifera population has been declining due to various factors including colony collapse disorder, varroa mite infestations, and the use of pesticides in agriculture. Efforts are being made to understand these threats and develop strategies to protect and conserve honey bee populations.

See also

• Beekeeping
• Honey production
• Bee diseases

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