Animals Invertebrates

Honeybee

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Apis mellifera

PROFILE:

Domesticated honeybees are major pollinators of crops in the United States and around the world. In recent years, their numbers have been declining due to a mysterious phenomenon called “Colony Collapse Disorder.” Since they are so important to the agricultural industry, researchers and scientists are working hard to understand this disorder and keep bees healthy.

TYPE OF ANIMAL:

arthropod, insect, hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants)

NATIVE TO:

Europe, but found worldwide

IUCN CONSERVATION STATUS:

not listed; however, in recent years there have been dramatic declines in the worldwide domestic honeybee population due to "Colony Collapse Disorder"

DIET:

herbivore

LIFESPAN:

queen bees can live up to 4 years, workers live up to a few months

SOCIAL STATUS:

social insects; colonies may contain 90,000 bees