Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 280

The western honey bee is found on every continent except Antarctica and is believed to have originated in Africa or Asia. Humans have played a role in spreading the species to various parts of the world. The honey bee exhibits social caste behavior, with different roles and conflicts between workers and the queen. Beekeeping has been practiced for thousands of years, with humans selectively breeding honey bees for desirable traits. The honey bee genome has been fully sequenced and analyzed, revealing unique characteristics and genetic diversity. While honey bees are generally beneficial, they can have negative impacts as non-native invasive species in certain environments. The honey bee has close relatives in the genus Apis, all originating in Asia except for Apis mellifera which originated in Europe, Asia, and Africa.