How many extant species of honeybees exist worldwide?

How many extant species of honeybees exist worldwide?

• A. Five
• B. Eight
• C. Six
• D. Seven

Answer: (D)

There are seven recognized extant species of honey bees in the genus Apis worldwide. These include Apis mellifera, the widely domesticated western honey bee; Apis cerana, the Asian honey bee; Apis dorsata, the giant forest honey bee; Apis florea, the dwarf honey bee; Apis laboriosa, the Himalayan giant honey bee; Apis koschevnikovi, a Southeast Asian species; and Apis nigrocincta, the black-banded honey bee. Each species varies in size, habitat, and colony behavior, but all produce honey and live in colonies, which is why they’re grouped as honey bees. The seven-species count is the standard taxonomic consensus, though classifications can shift with new genetic data.

There are seven recognized extant species of honey bees in the genus Apis worldwide. These include Apis mellifera, the widely domesticated western honey bee; Apis cerana, the Asian honey bee; Apis dorsata, the giant forest honey bee; Apis florea, the dwarf honey bee; Apis laboriosa, the Himalayan giant honey bee; Apis koschevnikovi, a Southeast Asian species; and Apis nigrocincta, the black-banded honey bee. Each species varies in size, habitat, and colony behavior, but all produce honey and live in colonies, which is why they’re grouped as honey bees. The seven-species count is the standard taxonomic consensus, though classifications can shift with new genetic data.