Honey bee

Honey bees are specialized, eusocial flying insects belonging to the genus *Apis*. They are members of the large bee family known as Apidae. These insects are famous for their highly organized social structures and their ability to build perennial nests. These nests are often located within protected cavities, which are known as beehives. Inside these hives, bees construct many hexagonal cells made from secreted wax.

A key characteristic of honey bees is their method of food storage. They collect carbohydrates and store them as honey through a process of routine regurgitation. This surplus food makes their hives a valuable target for many animals. For example, honey badgers and bears often hunt for these sweet stores. Humans also target honey hives for food. Beyond honey, humans utilize other bee secretions for various purposes. Beeswax is used to manufacture candles, soap, and lip balms. Additionally, royal jelly and bee venom are used in pharmaceutical and alternative medicine applications.

Scientists categorize honey bees into three distinct evolutionary groups, or clades. The first group is Micrapis, which contains the dwarf honey bees. These are small bees found in southern and southeastern Asia. They build small, exposed nests in shrubs or trees. The second group is Megapis, which includes the giant honey bees. These bees often build large, exposed combs on cliffs or high tree limbs. They can be very fierce and may sting humans to death if provoked.

The third and most well-known group is the genus *Apis* itself, which includes the western honey bee, *Apis mellifera*. This species is the most widely domesticated and is used heavily for crop pollination. While there are roughly 20,000 known bee species, only eight species of honey bee exist today. These eight species are divided into 43 different subspecies. The western honey bee is the most important for global agriculture and horticulture.

The history of honey bees stretches back millions of years. The earliest *Apis* fossils appear in the record at the Eocene–Oligocene boundary, about 34 million years ago. These specific fossils were found in European deposits. However, most scientists believe the center of origin for honey bees is South and Southeast Asia. This theory is supported by the fact that most living species are native to that region. *Apis mellifera* has been farmed by humans for a very long time. It has been domesticated at least since the era of the Egyptian pyramids.

Human migration has significantly changed where honey bees live. Originally, honey bees were native only to mainland Afro-Eurasia. Since the Age of Discovery, humans have introduced various subspecies to new lands. *Apis mellifera* was brought to South America in the early 16th century. It reached North America in the early 17th century. Later, in the early 19th century, they were introduced to Australia. Because of these human movements, honey bees are now found on every continent except Antarctica.

The western honey bee, *Apis mellifera*, has a complex and somewhat mysterious evolutionary history. It likely diverged from its eastern relatives during the Late Miocene epoch. Scientists believe that desertification in the Middle East may have caused this separation. As food plants declined, the ancestral populations were split into western and eastern groups. This separation stopped the flow of genes between the groups. The diversity we see today in subspecies is likely due to climate changes during the last ice age.

Honey bees play a massive role in the global ecosystem through pollination. They are considered the most valuable beneficial insects for both agriculture and horticulture. As they forage for nectar, they move pollen between plants. This process allows many crops to produce fruit and seeds. Modern beekeeping manages these insects to ensure stable food production. Without the work of these insects, many agricultural systems would struggle to function. Their relationship with humans and the environment is deeply interconnected.