Apis mellifera collecting nectar from Melanthera genus plant cover photo - 263264471

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This is an Apis mellifera honey bee species, Apidae family. The most common of the 7â€“12 species of honey bees worldwide. Common name: Western honey bee or European honey bee. The western honey bee can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Apis mellifera species was domesticated for honey production and crop pollination since 2600BC. The only other domesticated bee is the eastern honey bee (Apis cerana), which occurs in South, Southeast, and East Asia. In the 17th century, european colonists brought two subspecies to America: A. m. mellifera (the German honey bee) and A. m. ligustica (the Italian honey bee). The western honey bee is a very important pollinator of crops. Bees produce honey by collecting nectar, a clear liquid consisting of nearly 80 percent water and complex sugars. Honey is a biological mixture of inverted sugars, primarily glucose and fructose. Western honey bees are threatened by pests and diseases, especially the Varroa mite and colony collapse disorder. Observed near Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR), PetÃ©n department, northern Guatemala.

insect flower invertebrate bee nature honeybee animal plant wildflower blossom meadow green pollen wildlife pollinator arthropod apis mellifera collecting nectar melanthera genus honey species apidae family common bees worldwide western european bee continent antarctica domesticated production crop pollination 2600bc eastern cerana south southeast east asia 17th century colonists subspecies german ligustica italian crops clear liquid percent water complex sugars biological mixture inverted sugars glucose fructose threatened pests diseases colony collapse disorder maya biosphere reserve mbr petén department northern guatemala