Apis mellifera 

Honey Bee
European Honey Bee
Western Honey Bee

Not native to Florida

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Western honey bees are native to Europe, the middle east and Africa. Apis mellifera has been domesticated and is feral throughout North America where they are usually referred to as European honey bees.
Honey bees have hairy eyes and lack spurs on the hind tibiae. Worker bees are 12-16mm (1/2 to 5/8 in.) long. Queens and drones are larger. Honey bees carry pollen balled up on their legs.
There are a number of subspecies of Apis mellifera and they often hybridize.
For more information on honey bees, see the UF/IFAS Featured Creatures page for this species
See also stingless honey bees.

Apis mellifera is a member of the Apidae - Bumble bees, Honey bees, and other bees family.

For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Bugguide.net page for this species

Date record last modified: Oct 27, 2021