\Hon"ey*bee`\, n. (Zo["o]l.)
Any bee of the genus {Apis}, which lives in communities and
collects honey, esp. the common domesticated hive bee ({Apis
mellifica}), the Italian bee ({A. ligustica}), and the
Arabiab bee ({A. 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.