Western honey bee
Also known as: Apis mellifera, European honey bee, honey bee
The western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the bee species kept in frame hives across most of the world for honey, beeswax and pollination.
The western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the bee species kept in frame hives across most of the world. It gives honey, beeswax and other bee products, and the IPBES pollination assessment calls it the most widespread managed pollinator on Earth.
A colony has one queen bee, thousands of worker bees and, in the warm season, drones. IPBES lists the western honey bee with the eastern honey bee (Apis cerana), some bumble bees, stingless bees and a few solitary bees as the only bees people manage on a large scale.
There are many subspecies. NC State Extension compares the Italian honey bee, the Carniolan honey bee, the Caucasian bee and the European dark bee by gentleness, swarming and wintering. Honey bees are not native to the New World: European settlers brought them to America in the 17th century.
IPBES counts about 81 million hives producing around 1.6 million tonnes of honey and 65,000 tonnes of beeswax a year. Hive numbers have grown over five decades, although some European countries and North America have recorded declines.
Why this matters to you. Almost every jar of honey on a shelf comes from this one species. Its castes and subspecies explain why beekeepers choose a local bee and why colony losses are counted so closely.
Facts
| Main use | Honey, beeswax, other bee products and crop pollination |
|---|---|
| Duration | Egg to adult: queen 16 days, worker 21, drone 24 |
| House range | Subspecies include Italian, Carniolan, Caucasian and European dark bee |
| Region | Not native to the New World; brought to America in the 17th century |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Western honey bee → kind of → Apiary and beekeeping → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Apiary and beekeeping
- Similar and different
- 🐝 Bees, Carniolan honey bee, Italian honey bee, European dark bee, Worker bee, Varroa mite, Honey bee colony life cycle, Pollination by honey bees
Frequently asked questions
What is the western honey bee?
Apis mellifera, the bee species kept in frame hives across most of the world for honey, beeswax and pollination.
How long does a honey bee take to develop?
A queen takes 16 days from egg to adult, a worker 21 and a drone 24 (Texas A&M AgriLife).
How many honey bee hives are there?
About 81 million worldwide, producing around 1.6 million tonnes of honey a year (IPBES).
Is it true that the number of honey bee hives is falling worldwide?
No. IPBES reports that managed hives increased globally over five decades, though some European countries and North America saw declines.
How does it differ from Apis cerana?
They are separate species: IPBES lists the western (Apis mellifera) and the eastern honey bee (Apis cerana) separately among managed bees.
What to read next
- Varroa mite — The Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) is a parasitic mite of the honey bee that breeds in capped brood and spreads viruses.
- Pollination by honey bees — Pollination by honey bees is the transfer of pollen between flowers as bees collect nectar and pollen; colonies are kept for crop yields as well as for honey.
- Honey bee colony life cycle — The honey bee colony life cycle covers how queens, workers and drones develop from egg to adult and how the colony changes over the year, from spring build-up to winter.
- Worker bee — A worker bee is a female honey bee that normally does not lay eggs and does nearly all the colony's work.
- Carniolan honey bee — The Carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica) is a subspecies of the honey bee from central Europe.
Similar
Honey bee colony life cycle · Tree beekeeping · Bee smoker · Log hive · Honey extractor · Hive frame
Sources
- IPBES (2016): Summary for policymakers of the assessment report on pollinators, pollination and food production
- NC State Extension AG-654: The Different Types of Honey Bees (Tarpy, Keller)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Master Beekeeper Program: Honey Bee Biology