Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees » Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees (Apidae) » Honey, Bumble, Longhorn, Orchid, and Digger Bees (Apinae) » Honey Bees (Apini) » Honey Bees (Apis) » Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Photo#2055029
Invasive on invasive. Apis mellifera - Apis mellifera - female
Copyright © 2021 Bob OBrien

Invasive on invasive. Apis mellifera - Apis mellifera - Female
Carver, Clackamas County, Oregon, USA
October 19, 2021
Couldn't resist submitting. Late blooming, massively-invasive, English Ivy is a bonanza for the invasive(?) Western Honeybee. These bees fly on quite cool days, well before other insects are active in the morning. Nevertheless there are still plenty of ivy flowers to go around for the relatively few, active, native insects.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Bob OBrien on 24 October, 2021 - 2:38pm
Last updated 17 November, 2023 - 12:02pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… bdagley, 24 October, 2021 - 3:51pm login or register to post comments

Honey Bees...
...were intentionally introduced by early European settlers. They're non-native, but not considered "invasive." :)
… Ken Wolgemuth, 24 October, 2021 - 3:18pm login or register to post comments

 
I guess "invasive" depends on
I guess "invasive" depends on the perspective in this case. From the ecological perspective, honeybees are pests that spread diseases and outcompete native bees. On the other hand, they are helpful for humans, pollinating crops and producing honey.
… Hexapoda, 24 October, 2021 - 3:20pm login or register to post comments

 
Good point!
I've never seen honey bees referred to as invasive, but I suppose it does indeed depend on one's perspective.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 24 October, 2021 - 3:38pm login or register to post comments

 
A beekeeper
My son, to whom I also sent this submission, is a a beekeeper and he will undoubtedly be gladened by everyone's response I hope.
… Bob OBrien, 24 October, 2021 - 4:39pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact