- Any bee of the genus Apis, which lives in communities and
collects honey, esp. the common domesticated hive bee (Apis mellifica),
the Italian bee (A. ligustica), and the Arabiab bee (A. fasciata). The
two latter are by many entomologists considered only varieties of the
common hive bee. Each swarm of bees consists of a large number of
workers (barren females), with, ordinarily, one queen or fertile
female, but in the swarming season several young queens, and a number
of males or drones, are produced.
Definition
[ n.]