Honey bees are essential pollinators that feed on nectar and pollen. This species is primarily responsible for supplying us with honey. One gram of honey takes about five days to produce, and a bee has to visit about 50,000 flowers [1].
Honey bees are an essential part of agriculture, but they also pose a potential threat to ecosystems. Research suggests there are risks of honey bees outcompeting wild bees, but there is still a lack of research on the subject [2]. Wild bees and several other pollinators are more limited in their diet, and honeybees are more general [3]. When honeybees visit flowers, they risk spreading viruses to wild bumblebees that visit the same flowers [4].
Key functions
● Pollinating
● Honey producers, other by-products (candles, honey creams, pollen, etc.)
Threat:
● Monocultural agricultural landscape (Some species are bound to the agricultural landscape).
● Reduction of biodiversity
● Climate change
● Pathogens include Varroa mites and invasive species such as the Asian giant hornet.
Common Species:
There is only one honey bee species in Sweden and Europe, Apis Mellifera [2]. In addition, four other subspecies of honey bees exist in Sweden [5].
Some species to discover in nature:
● Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
iNaturalist – Honey Bee 
● European Dark Bee (Apis mellifera mellifera)
Wikipedia – European Dark Bee
● Ligurian (or Italian) Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica)
iNaturalist – Ligurian or Italian Honey Bee
● Buckfast Bee (Apis mellifera X)
Wikipedia – Buckfast Bee – Apis mellifera X
● Carnolian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera carnica)
iNaturalist – Carnolian Honey Bee
Sources
- Biodling Ronnie Bergh – 10 interesting facts about bees and beekeeping
- UN Environment Program – Why bees are essential to people and planet
- Supermiljobloggen – The honey bee threatens wild species
- Journals.plos – RNA virus spillover from managed honeybees
- Nordgen – he Nordic brown bee
- Taylor & Francis Online – Is It Honey Bee or Honeybee? Bumble Bee or Bumblebee? Who Decides the Common Names of Bees?
May 2022, TÄNKOM | Revised February 2024 RETHINK
