A beekeeper inspects brood comb during a routine hive inspection. Regular inspections are necessary to monitor the health of the colony and better plan management activities.
A beekeeper inspects brood combs during a routine hive inspection.
With summer temperatures near 95ºF (36ºC), workers cluster outside the hive in a behavior known as "bearding".
Portrait of a mature laying queen.
A queen honey bee solicits food from one of her daughters.
A stingless bee (Partamona sp.) visits a sugar bowl.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
A honey bee (Apis mellifera)  visits a new england aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Sweat bees (Halictidae) collecting pollen from sideoats grama, a native prairie grass.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A bumble bee (Bombus sp.) visits Monarda flowers.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A honey bee (Apis mellifera) visits a new england aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A honey bee (Apis mellifera)  visits a new england aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A honey bee (Apis mellifera) visits a new england aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).

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