INSECTA

A closer look · Insect guide

Honey Bees

Apis mellifera — western honey bee

The western honey bee is a social bee introduced to North America for honey production. It is one kind of bee, not a name for every flower visitor.

Are all bees honey bees?

No. Honey bees are familiar colony-living insects, but most bee species do not form large honey-bee-like colonies.

How are bees related to wasps?

Bees, wasps and ants belong to Hymenoptera. Winged members typically have two pairs of membranous wings.

What should you record at a flower?

Record the flower visited and the visible body markings. A yellow-and-black pattern by itself is not a reliable identification.

Try one observation

Watch one flower from a distance and count visits for a minute. Do not follow visitors back to a hive or disturb a nest.

Observe without handling or collecting. These clues are a starting point, not a confirmed identification.

Source & further reading

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Wasps, ants and bees

Published . Short introductory summary; consult the source for detail and regional context.

Keep exploring

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