Worker bees ripen nectar in freshly-built honeycomb.
A worker bee gathers nectar from a purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) in Illinois.
A honey bee worker, close-up. The hairs serve several functions, including insulation, pollen collection, and sensory input.
Apis mellifera, the western honey bee.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A drone honey bee, Apis mellifera.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A stingless bee (Partamona sp.) visits a sugar bowl.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Partamona soil-nesting stingless bees.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Foraging bees may gather both nectar and pollen. Both are visible on this worker, returning to the nest with a full honey stomach (visible as the distended abdomen) and pollen (stored in baskets on the legs).

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A honey bee in flight (Apis mellifera).

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Apis mellifera, the western honey bee.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Apis mellifera, the western honey bee.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Apis mellifera, the western honey bee.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013