Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Honey Bees live in large colonies. Far more now nest in man-made hives than live in a natural habitat. Many plants rely on these social creatures for pollination. Sterile females are known as 'workers' and their job is to look after the hive. They clean, guard, gather food and feed the larvae. Males are known as 'drones', their main role is to mate with the Queen. A Queen makes her first flight when she hears a group of drones approaching. Mating occurs in mid-air and the drone immediately dies afterwards. The Queen secretes a substance from her body that the workers lick. The workers then set about building the colony. 

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