🔍 Western Honey Bee | Apis mellifera 🐝
📍 Heredia, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
💬 A single foraging trip can take her to 50–100 flowers, and it’s that same nonstop hustle powering the tiny white blooms she’s working here.
Fauna
Western Honey Bee | Apis mellifera
Basic ID
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated globally (introduced/managed population); wild EU colonies reassessed Endangered by IUCN in 2025
Coloration
Golden-amber body with dark banded abdomen and dense fuzzy hair
Lifespan
5-6 weeks (summer workers); several months (winter workers); queen 2-5 years
Size
Length
12-15 mm
Weight
~0.1 g
Wingspan
Habitat & Behavior
Native Range
Europe, Africa, and Western Asia
Habitat Type
Gardens, meadows, and cultivated landscapes near flowering plants
Diet
Nectar and pollen
Activity Pattern
Diurnal
Sources: IUCN Red List · Encyclopedia of Life · GBIF · Catalogue of Life