Free-Living Colonies: Trick or Treat?

Abstract

The term “honey bees” applies to the group of species belonging to the genus Apis. Despite some debates still ongoing on its geographical origin, their natural distribution covers Africa, the Saudi peninsula and Europe, with most of its diversity in Asia. They are generalist pollinators, securing their services to different natural ecosystems ranging from the Equator to the border with both Polar Circles. The most studied honey bee is undoubtedly the Western honey bee, also known as European honey bee, Apis mellifera. Therefore, in the following paragraphs, we use the name “honey bee” as a synonym of A. mellifera, if not differently specified.