The western honey bee can be found on every continent except Antarctica. The species is believed to have originated in Africa or Asia, and it … See more

Behavioral and physiological differences between castes and subcastes arise from phenotypic plasticity, which relies on gene expression rather … See more

Thermoregulation
The western honey bee needs an internal body temperature of 35 °C (95 °F) to fly; this temperature is maintained in the nest to develop the brood, and is the optimal temperature for the creation of wax. The temperature on the … See more

The western honey bee is a colonial insect which is housed, transported by and sometimes fed by beekeepers. Honey bees do not survive and reproduce individually, but as … See more

Colony life cycle
Unlike most other bee species, western honey bees have perennial colonies which persist year after year. Because of this high degree of … See more

When a fertile female worker produces drones, a conflict arises between her interests and those of the queen. The worker shares one … See more

Humans have been collecting honey from western honey bees for thousands of years, with evidence in the form of rock art found in France and Spain, dating to around 7,000 BCE. … See more