Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera

The western honey bee is the globe-trotter of the bee world—the most common of all honey bee species and deliberately introduced to nearly every continent except Antarctica by humans seeking honey production. Its scientific name tells its ancient story: Apis is Latin for 'bee,' while mellifera means 'honey-bearing' or 'honey-carrying.' This single remarkable species produces billions of dollars' worth of honey globally each year while simultaneously serving as one of the planet's most important pollinators. From almonds and apples to cucumbers and clover, its ecological and economic impact cannot be overstated.