Home›Insects›Taxonomy›ApisTaxaApisInsect GeneraReference and ClassificationThoroughly VerifiedApis is a genus of eusocial flying insects in the bee family Apidae; only members of this genus are true honey bees. Eight extant species are recognized, comprising 43 total subspecies, though historically seven to eleven species have been recognized by different authorities. Honey bees build perennial nests of hexagonal wax cells within cavities, live in large colonies and produce honey by regurgitating digested carbohydrates as surplus food storage; all species are native to mainland Afro-Eurasia, though the western honey bee has been spread by humans to a cosmopolitan distribution on every continent except Antarctica, introduced to South America in the 16th century, North America in the 17th and Australia in the 19th.FactsApisConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsTaxonomic RankWell-attestedGenus 1Scientific NameWell-attestedApis 1Member Species/Taxa CountWell-attested8 1Geographic DistributionWell-attestedNative to mainland Afro-Eurasia; now has a cosmopolitan distribution across every continent except Antarctica 1Defining CharacteristicsWell-attestedBuild perennial nests of hexagonal wax cells within cavities and produce honey by regurgitating digested carbohydrates as surplus food storage 1Member Count BandWell-attestedUnder 10 Species 3Era First AppearedWell-attestedPaleogene 4IdentificationDistinguishing AppearanceWell-attestedDistinguished from other bee species by the small barbs on the sting 1ClassificationLiving or ExtinctWell-attestedYes 2ApisFilter Results6 entriesCommon GroupAllBees, Wasps And Ants (Hymenoptera) (6)Everyday GroupAllBees, Wasps And Ants (Hymenoptera) (6)HabitatAllChaparral (2)Desert (2)Grassland (1)River (1)Steppe (1)Temperate Forest (1)Tropical Rainforest (2)Where It LivesAllAlbania (1)Australia (1)Denmark (1)Greece (1)Japan (1)South Asia (4)Sweden (1)Conservation StatusAllEndangered (1)Not Evaluated (5)DietAllHerbivore (3)System (Realm)AllTerrestrial (5)Living or ExtinctAllYes (6)Relationship to PeopleAllDomesticated (1)Eaten or Drunk by People (1)Pollinator (1)Used in Traditional Medicine (1)CITES AppendixAllNot Listed (6)NatureServe RankAllGNR Unranked (2)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 6Apis ceranaApisApis dorsataApisApis laboriosaApisApis mellifera cecropiaApisApis nigrocinctaApisEuropean dark beeApisConnectionsParent Taxon OfApis cerana, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Apis ceranaApis dorsata, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Apis dorsataApis karinjodian, Species Well-attested Source Apis karinjodian (Wikipedia)Apis laboriosa, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Apis laboriosaApis mellifera cecropia, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Apis mellifera cecropiaApis nigrocincta, Species Well-attested Source Apis nigrocincta (Wikipedia)European dark bee, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: European dark beeItalian bee, Species Well-attested Source Italian bee (Wikipedia)In the Other AtlasesFound InAntarcticaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.AsiaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.Sources1. Honey bee (Apis) - WikipediaLead section, opening sentence, genus classificationA honey bee (also spelled honeybee) is a eusocial flying insect from the genus Apis of the largest bee family, Apidae.Lead section, opening sentence, genus nameA honey bee (also spelled honeybee) is a eusocial flying insect from the genus Apis of the largest bee family, Apidae.Species section, species count sentenceonly eight extant species of honey bee are recognized, with a total of 43 subspeciesOrigin, systematics, and distribution sectionresulting in the current cosmopolitan distribution of honey bees in all continents except AntarcticaLead section, nest-building sentenceHoney bees are known for their construction of perennial nests within cavities (i.e. beehives) containing hexagonal cells made of secreted waxDefense section, sting sentencedistinguished from all other bee species by the possession of small barbs on the stingView the Source2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)tier 2Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ102857, descriptionView the Source3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for ApisCatalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount"speciesExtantCount": 8View the Source4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for ApisPaleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)"taxon_name": "Apis" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 33.9 ... "early_interval": "Rupelian"View the SourceWikidata: ApisWikidata Q102857, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the SourceWikidata: European dark beeParent Taxon Of: European dark bee, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Apis dorsataParent Taxon Of: Apis dorsata, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Apis laboriosaParent Taxon Of: Apis laboriosa, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Apis ceranaParent Taxon Of: Apis cerana, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Apis mellifera cecropiaParent Taxon Of: Apis mellifera cecropia, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceApis karinjodian (Wikipedia)Parent Taxon Of: Apis karinjodian, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Apis karinjodian, Leadis a species of genus Apis which was reported recently from IndiaView the SourceItalian bee (Wikipedia)Parent Taxon Of: Italian bee, Lead, genus ApisQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Italian bee, Lead, genus ApisThe Italian bee or Italian honey bee (Apis mellifera ligustica) is a subspecies of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera).View the SourceApis nigrocincta (Wikipedia)Parent Taxon Of: Apis nigrocincta, TaxoboxQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Apis nigrocincta, TaxoboxWikipedia taxobox field: genus = ApisView the SourceHoney bee (Wikipedia)In Group: Bee Genera, LeadQuote, In Group: Bee Genera, LeadA honey bee (also spelled honeybee) is a eusocial flying insect from the genus Apis of the largest bee family, Apidae.View the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. 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