European honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is the well-established pollinator of many plants throughout Europe and the western world. This insect is eusocial and lives in a colony, often provided by its caretaker. The life cycle of the honey bee is holometabolous (complete) with an egg, larva pupa, and adult. Completing the life cycle can take approximately three weeks depending on conditions. Besides pollination, honey production is a key aspect of the honey bee which has led to its industrialization. However, a much less known aspect of honey bee production, is the use of its immatures as human food.
Classification
Apis mellifera
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Arthropoda |
Class | Insecta |
Order | Hymenoptera |
Family | Apidae |
Genus | Apis |
Species | A. mellifera |
Author citation | Linnaeus, 1758 |
Common names | |
western honey bee, european honey bee |