Giant Honey Bees

Giant honey collecting nectar therefore pollinating a yellow-dot flower

Giant Honey Bee Classification Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Family: Apidae Genus: Apis Species: Apis dorsata The giant honey bee is a species of bee known as Apis dorsata. A giant honey bee belongs to the genus Apis, which is part of the family Apidae. All Hymenoptera, including Apidae, are insects. The giant honey bee is […]

Asian Giant Hornets

Asian giant hornet sitting on the palm of a human hand

Asian Giant Hornet Classification Class: Hexapoda (Insecta) Order: Hymenoptera Family: Vespidae Genus: Vespa Species: Vespa mandarinia Asian giant hornets are the largest known species of hornet.[1]  Vespa mandarinia, the scientific name for Asian giant hornets, is derived from the Latin word for “wasp,” vespa, and the English word “mandarin,” a Chinese official’s nickname, as well […]

Four-Toothed Mason Wasps

A male and a female four-toothed mason wasp mating on a leaf

Four-Toothed Mason Wasp Classification Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Family: Vespidae Genus: Monobia Species: Monobia quadridens The four-toothed mason wasp is a species of wasp known as Monobia quadridens. Four-toothed mason wasps are a solitary potter wasp that is typically found in North America. They were first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1763 as Vespa quadridens. […]

Bee Flies

Bee Fly Classification Class: Insecta Order: Diptera Family: Bombyliidae Genus: Many Species: Many The bee fly is an insect belonging to the Bombyliidae family. Bee flies are so named because some Bombyliidae species closely resemble bees. Bombyliidae are members of the Diptera order, which is part of the Insecta class. The Bombyliidae family contains at […]

Eastern Carpenter Bees

Carpenter-Bee

Eastern Carpenter Bee Classification Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Family: Apidae Genus: Xylocopa Species: Xylocopa virginica Eastern carpenter bees are a species of bee in the genus Xylocopa. Xylocopa is Latin for “woodcutter,” a reference to how eastern carpenter bees nest by digging into wood and creating small piles of shavings below their nests. [1] The […]

Scout Bees

Close up of a scout bee working in the hive

Scout bee is a type of honey bee that searches for new nesting sites for honey bees when they are ready to swarm.  There are only a few species of honey bees that perform this swarming and scouting behavior, including Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. In general, other kinds of bees do not swarm and […]

Varroa Mites

Close up of Varroa mite infesting a honeybee larvae

Varroa Mite Classification Class: Arachnida Order: Mesostigmata Family: Varroidae Genus: Varroa Species: Varroa destructor Varroa mites, also known as Varroa destructor, are parasites that feed on honeybees, including Apis cerana and Apis mellifera.  Varroa destructor (Varroa mite) is a species belonging to the genus Varroa in the family Varroidae. They belong to the order Mesostigmata, […]

Andrena Bees

Andrena bee with blue metallic stripes sitting on plant stem

Andrena Bee Classification Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Family: Andrenidae Genus: Andrena Andrena is one of the largest genera of insects, including more than 1,500 species.[1] The Andrena genus consists of medium-sized bees that nest in the ground, hence their common name “mining bee” or “digger bee”.[2] Their scientific name is derived from an ancient Greek […]

Caucasian Honey Bees

Pollen covered caucasian honey bee in the process of collecting pollen

Caucasian Honey Bee Classification Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Family: Apidae Genus: Apis Species: A. mellifera Apis mellifera caucasia, the Caucasian honey bee, is capable of producing large quantities of honey and propolis. A combination of this and their generally gentle and docile nature makes Caucasian honey bees highly desirable among beekeepers. Caucasian honey bees get […]

Giant Resin Bees

Side view of giant resin bee with pollen covering the hairs on its body

Giant Resin Bee Classification Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Family: Megachilidae Genus: Megachile Species: M. sculpturalis The giant resin bee, Megachile sculpturalis, is a species of leaf-cutting bee native to Asia.[1] Giant resin bees are also known as sculptured resin bees. These bees belong to the genus Megachile. Giant resin bees are known to be larger […]