Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

Honey bee

Apis mellifera Linnaeus


Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae

Size range

  • Medium–sized insects, workers about 12 mm long, queens bigger

Distribution

  • Introduced for honey production and pollination

Life History

  • The commercial source of honey
  • Useful in pollinating some crops
  • Stings. Some people may be allergic
  • Occasionally swarms

Additional images