Hive bees on freshly built comb during a major summer honey flow.
Nectar ripens into honey in open, uncapped cells.
Hive bees ripening nectar.
Hive bees ripening nectar.
Two worker bees engage in trophallaxis food-sharing behavior.
Honey bee queens normally mate with multiple drones to ensure a genetically diverse colony. This diversity of drone parentage may be visible in the varying hues of the worker force.
Portrait of a guard bee.
Nectar ripens into honey in open, uncapped cells.
Nectar ripens into honey in open, uncapped cells.
Nectar ripens into honey in open, uncapped cells.
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013