Honey bun

Honey bee is a member of the genus Apis, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of perennial, colonial nests from wax. Honey bees are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax.

Biology

Honey bees represent only a small fraction of the approximately 20,000 known species of bees. Some other types of related bees produce and store honey, but only members of the genus Apis are true honey bees.

Life cycle

The honey bee life cycle, from egg to adult, lasts about 21 days for worker bees. The queen bee lays the eggs, which will hatch into larvae after three days. The larvae are fed by worker bees and develop through several stages in the cells of the honeycomb.

Social structure

Honey bees are social insects that live in colonies. The hive population consists of a single queen bee, a few hundred drone bees, and thousands of worker bees.

Role in pollination

Honey bees play a vital role in pollination, which helps plants to reproduce. This is crucial for agriculture and food production.

Threats

Honey bees face various threats such as parasites, diseases, climate change, and exposure to pesticides.

See also

• Beekeeping
• Colony collapse disorder
• Africanized bee