Now found across much of the world through natural range and human-assisted introductions.
Fine-art photographic collection
Apis mellifera
A Apidae species documented from Worldwide distribution.
About this species
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera(Linnaeus, 1758)
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Apis mellifera is a highly social bee forming perennial colonies with a queen, workers and seasonal males. Workers build wax comb, store honey and pollen, and communicate profitable food locations with dance signals.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Hymenoptera · Apidae · Apis
Accepted species or infraspecific taxon in the current GBIF/Catalogue of Life treatment; unsupported details have been omitted rather than inferred. · checked 2026-07-15
Worldwide distributionBroad documented range and selected occurrence localities — not a complete occurrence map.
Woodland, farmland, gardens and urban areas wherever nesting cavities and flowering plants are available; many colonies are managed in hives.
Workers forage whenever weather and temperature allow.
Nectar supplies carbohydrates and is converted into honey; pollen provides protein and other nutrients.
Perennial eusocial colony.
What makes this species remarkable?
Workers use the waggle dance to indicate food direction and distance.
Managed and feral populations occur on every inhabited continent.
Colonies store food to survive periods without flowers.
Sources and scientific references
More photographs
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