European Honey Bee

European honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Honey bee are social insects, and their colonies can have upwards of 20,000 to 80,000 individuals. They are raised for honey and beeswax, and are essential for pollination of many crops. The stinger has barbs, so that the stinger and the poison sac remain in the skin. Unlike wasps, honey bees can sting only once. image: Richard Martyniak