Honey Bees
Some background info....
Honey bees are perhaps one of the worlds most beneficial organisms living on this planet, they can be found worldwide throughout Asia, Europe, America, Africa and Oceania (University of California, 1995-2013). Their importance revolves around the species ability to pollinate a wide array of plants and vegetation. This characteristic plays a critical role in aiding in the pollination of flowers, crops and pasture vegetation worldwide, allowing for increases in production of agricultural crops and ecosystem health and diversity. As their name suggests they are also well renowned for their unique ability to produce honey and beeswax, which are common extracts exploited for consumption by humans. Honey Bees also extract compounds from tree buds and produce 'propolis' which is a compound bees use as a sealant, however it also has its uses in medicinal purposes for humans.
It has previously been estimated bees contribute to roughly one-third of our diet as humans, with food originating directly or indirectly from bee pollinated crop plants, by means of pollination and honey (Hoopingarner R.A. & Waller G.D. 1992). The role of the Honey bee as a primary pollinator has cemented its status as an organism responsible for saving plant and animal species worldwide. The mutually beneficial relationship between Honey bees and plants is accountable for increasing plant fitness, genetic variability and diversity in many vegetation and agriculture regions. In turn this increases biological productivity as well as restoring ecosystem health to an equilibrium level. The Honey bees life traits and characteristics are of higher importance to humans than any other insect, with its mutualistic relationships with plants and crops driving sustainable agriculture and productivity (Shrestha, J. B., 2009).
The Honey bee's belong to the order Hymenoptera, which comprises of such insects as ants, wasps, ichneumons and chalcids (Devillers, J.,& Pham-Delègue, M. H., 2004). They belong to the family Apidae which consists of Cuckoo bees, Carpenter bees, Digger bees and the more renowned Bumble bee. The Honey bees are a subset of bees in the genus Apis, which currently comprises of 11 recognized species worldwide. The Apis species are socialistic bees, meaning they live in a colony which consists of highly organized relationships between members, with individuals carrying out specific tasks due to physiological and behavioral traits (Weinstock, G. M et al' , 2006). Apis species are classified into two groups, based upon nesting practices. One group builds single comb, open air nests and the other group of species nest inside cavities where they can build multiple combs (Hepburn, H. R., & Radloff, S. S. E. 2011) (Michener, C. D. 2000).
It has previously been estimated bees contribute to roughly one-third of our diet as humans, with food originating directly or indirectly from bee pollinated crop plants, by means of pollination and honey (Hoopingarner R.A. & Waller G.D. 1992). The role of the Honey bee as a primary pollinator has cemented its status as an organism responsible for saving plant and animal species worldwide. The mutually beneficial relationship between Honey bees and plants is accountable for increasing plant fitness, genetic variability and diversity in many vegetation and agriculture regions. In turn this increases biological productivity as well as restoring ecosystem health to an equilibrium level. The Honey bees life traits and characteristics are of higher importance to humans than any other insect, with its mutualistic relationships with plants and crops driving sustainable agriculture and productivity (Shrestha, J. B., 2009).
The Honey bee's belong to the order Hymenoptera, which comprises of such insects as ants, wasps, ichneumons and chalcids (Devillers, J.,& Pham-Delègue, M. H., 2004). They belong to the family Apidae which consists of Cuckoo bees, Carpenter bees, Digger bees and the more renowned Bumble bee. The Honey bees are a subset of bees in the genus Apis, which currently comprises of 11 recognized species worldwide. The Apis species are socialistic bees, meaning they live in a colony which consists of highly organized relationships between members, with individuals carrying out specific tasks due to physiological and behavioral traits (Weinstock, G. M et al' , 2006). Apis species are classified into two groups, based upon nesting practices. One group builds single comb, open air nests and the other group of species nest inside cavities where they can build multiple combs (Hepburn, H. R., & Radloff, S. S. E. 2011) (Michener, C. D. 2000).