HONEY BEES
Apis mellifera
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Appearance:
Honey Bees have a variety of colors
from yellow to black and will have a solid or striped abdomen that is
often encircled with opposing color bands. They will frequently be seen
carrying pollen on their hind legs. They can sting, and will leave the
stinger behind pulsing as it empties its venom into the unlucky victim.
Size:
½-inch long.
Behavior:
Honey bees are highly social, usually consisting of a single queen,
between 6,000 and 60,000 workers, and a few hundred to a few thousand
drones. Colonies are perennial, usually surviving for several years.
Colonies reproduce by swarming, which typically occurs in May or June.
A swarm consists of the original queen and several thousand workers. A
swarm will cluster on a branch near the original nest while scouts seek
a new permanent location.
Habitat:
Wild nests are found inside hollow trees and occasionally in caves or
cracks in rock formations. In some cases a colony will decide to nest
inside an attic, a crawl space, or a wall void in a home. Honey Bees
are commonly seen in flowering gardens.
Interesting Fact:
Honey bees provide over 200 million pounds of honey a year.
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