Honey bees, scientifically also known as Apis mellifera, which mean “honey-carrying bee”, are environmentally
friendly and are vital as pollinators.
It is the only insect that produces food eaten by man.
Honey bees live in colonies, or hives, of 50,000 bees on average. A honey bee colony consists of a queen, drones, and workers. All play roles in the survival of the community.
Honey bees undergo complete metamorphosis.
Egg: The queen bee lays the eggs. She is the mother to all or nearly all members of the colony.
Larva: The worker bees care for the larvae, feeding and cleaning them.
Pupa: After molting several times, the larvae will cocoon inside the cells of the hive. Adult: Male adults are always drones; females may be workers or queens. For the first 3 to 10 days of their adult lives, all females are nurses that care for the young.
Most worker bees live only 5-6 weeks, but the queen can live up to 5 years!
The average worker bee produces only about 1/12th teaspoon of honey in her lifetime. Doesn’t this fact make you love every drop of honey?
The bee’s brain is oval in shape and only about the size of a sesame seed, yet it has the remarkable capacity to learn and remember things and is able to make complex calculations on distance traveled and foraging efficiency.
Honey bees have a sophisticated method of communication. Pheromones signal when the hive is under attack, help the queen find mates and orient the foraging bees so they can return to their hive. The waggle dance, an elaborate series of movements by a worker bee, informs other bees where the best sources of food are located.