Any bee of the genus
Apis, which lives in communities and collects honey,
esp. the common domesticated hive bee (
Apis mellifica), the Italian bee (
Apis ligustica), and the Arabiab bee (
Apis fasciata). The two latter are by many entomologists considered only varieties of the common hive bee. Each swarm of bees consists of a large number of workers (barren females), with, ordinarily, one queen or fertile female, but in the swarming season several young queens, and a number of males or drones, are produced.
(Zool.)