About Apis Mellifera Bee
Apis Mellifera is one of the most well-known and widely domesticated species of honey bees in the world. The name comes from Latin: Apis means "bee" and Mellifera means "honey-bearing".
Characteristics:
- Body size: Around 12–15 mm.
- Color: Generally brown with yellow and black stripes.
- Social behavior: Lives in large colonies, often with tens of thousands of individuals.
- Caste system: Composed of one queen, hundreds of drones, and thousands of sterile female worker bees.
Roles in the Colony:
- Queen bee: The only fertile female; her main job is to lay eggs.
- Drones: Male bees whose primary role is to mate with a queen. They die shortly after mating.
- Worker bees: Sterile females that perform all other tasks—building the hive, feeding the brood, defending the colony, and foraging for nectar and pollen.
Strengths:
- High honey production.
- Easily managed in hives for beekeeping.
- Excellent natural pollinators for agriculture.
Origin and Distribution:
Originally native to Europe, Africa, and Western Asia, Apis mellifera has been introduced worldwide due to its adaptability and usefulness.
Main Benefits:
- Honey: The primary product consumed by humans.
- Beeswax: Used in candles, cosmetics, and various industries.
- Propolis & royal jelly: Valued for their health benefits.
- Pollination: Crucial for crop productivity and biodiversity.
