Apidae: Honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Biology

The European honey bee is native to Europe, Asia and the Middle East but has been introduced to all parts of the world. Honey bees arrived in North America with European colonists in the early seventeenth century and are now an important part of modern crop production pollination services. Honey bees are moderately hairy, elongated bees, 0.4-0.6 inches in length, varying in color from black to amber brown with abdominal stripes. Honey bee colonies are perennial persisting through winter and other periods with limited flower availability by feeding on their large stores of honey. Colonies can become very large with 50,000 or more workers and transporting hives around the country for crop pollination services is big business. Feral colonies of honey bees are now uncommon following a decline in the 1990s and managed honey bee hives have also declined because of ‘colony collapse disorder’. Evidence is accumulating to suggest that in some situations honey bees may limit the effectiveness and populations of native bees. Research has also shown that populations of both honey and native bees provide more effective pollination than either alone.