Honey bee

Apis mellifera

Prefered habitat -

Grassland, wetland, farmland, woodland, gardens, coastal

Nectar & Pollen Sources -

Meadow Cranesbill, Cowslip, sunflowers, Poppies, Honeysuckle, Daisies, Dandelions

Local Site -

Hendre Lake

A Bit About Me

Probably the best known bee, the honeybee's honey has been used by humans for thousands of years. In the wild they live in wooded areas in large hives made of wax honeycombs. The queen lays eggs whilst the workers care for the young. Every year a new queen will either take the place of her mother, or she will leave to start a colony of her own.

They live in hives of up to 50,000 individuals, and are commonly found feeding on open flowers they can easily reach with their short tongues, including those of trees, herbs and shrubs.

Identification

Honey bees are relatively small insects 1.2cm long They have a compact body structure, consisting of three main segments: the head, thorax, and abdomen. Honey bees are easily recognised by their slim, sandy thorax and black abdomen with golden-amber bands.