Apis mellifica, commonly known as the honeybee, is a species of bee within the genus Apis, primarily known for its production of honey and its role in pollination. The term "Apis mellifica" is Latin, with "Apis" meaning "bee" and "mellifica" derived from "mel" (honey) and "facere" (to make), translating to "honey-making bee." In Hebrew, it is referred to as דבורה דבורים (Devorah Dvorim). This species is crucial in agriculture due to its pollination services, which significantly enhance crop yields. Honeybees live in colonies that can number in the tens of thousands, with highly organized social structures consisting of a queen, workers, and drones. The workers are female and are responsible for foraging, hive maintenance, and caring for the queen and larvae. Drones are male bees whose primary role is to mate with a new queen. The honeybee's role in ecosystems and human food production makes it one of the most studied and economically important insects.
European honey bee
The western honey bee or European honey bee is the most common of the 7–12 species of honey bees worldwide. The genus name Apis is Latin for 'bee', and mellifera is the Latin for 'honey-bearing' or 'honey-carrying', referring to the species' production of honey.