The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20230205081044/https://bugguide.net/node/view/3079
Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

National Moth Week was July 23-31, 2022! See moth submissions.

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Anthophila (Apoidea) - Bees » Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees (Apidae) » Honey, Bumble, Longhorn, Orchid, and Digger Bees (Apinae) » Honey Bees (Apini) » Honey Bees (Apis)

Genus Apis - Honey Bees

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Remarks · Works Cited
Two bees on coneflower - Apis mellifera Honey Bee - Apis mellifera Top Bar hive - Apis mellifera Bee? - Apis mellifera brown striped bee - Apis mellifera Bee - Apis mellifera - female Western Honey Bee - Dorsal - Apis mellifera Unknown Bee - Apis mellifera
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
No Taxon (Anthophila (Apoidea) - Bees)
Family Apidae (Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees)
Subfamily Apinae (Honey, Bumble, Longhorn, Orchid, and Digger Bees)
Tribe Apini (Honey Bees)
Genus Apis (Honey Bees)
Other Common Names
honeybees, stinging honey bees, true honey bees
Explanation of Names
Apis Linnaeus, 1758
apis (L). 'honeybee'
Numbers
A single (introduced) species in our area, 7 spp. worldwide/total(1)
Apis mellifera
Remarks
The ability to store honey reserves means workers can keep the hive warm by vibrating their wing muscles on cold days and nothing has to go dormant- so they're often out and about in early spring. Taken from a comment by Chuck Entz, 11 April, 2009.
Works Cited
1.Ascher J.S., Pickering J. (2017) Discover Life bee species guide and world checklist (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 29 March, 2004 - 10:02pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, Ted Kropiewnicki, John S. Ascher, Aaron Schusteff, v belov, Nathaniel Green
Last updated 2 February, 2021 - 4:16pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact