Honey Bee Biology
Honey Bee Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Apis
Species:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Apis
Species:
Honey bees, scientifically known as Apis mellifera, come in two variations: the European Honey Bee and the American Honey Bee. The adult honeybee varies in length from 9mm to 20mm and can be distinguished by a nearly all black head and a body that varies in color from golden yellow to brown to red. Their bodies are also covered in very small, branched hairs that not only serve to keep them warm but also aid them in carrying more pollen. It is because of these hairs that bees are such efficient pollinating insects. As with all insects, honey bees are comprised of an exoskeleton and are divided into three sections, the head, the thorax, and the abdomen (see diagram upper left). One of the most interesting aspects of honey bee biology is that they breath through the use of spiracles, which are small, paired holes down the side of the body that collect air as the bee moves through the air (see diagram bottom left). |