Western honey bee

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/western-honey-bee

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Western honey bee?Can range from 10,000 to 60,000 individuals during peak season
2. What is the scientific name?Apis mellifera
3. What is the native range?Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
4. Where can Western honey bees be found?They live on almost every continent except Antarctica, because people moved them to new places. They can live in forests, farms, and even deserts if flowers are around.
5. How do honey bees collect food?Honey bees gather nectar from flowers and bring it back to the hive, where they turn it into honey. They also collect pollen on special baskets on their legs for protein.

Superorganism: A group of genetically identical or closely related individuals that function as a single, integrated unit.
Pheromones: Chemical substances produced and released into the environment by an animal, affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species.
Varroa destructor: An external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on the honey bee, significantly weakening colonies and transmitting viruses.