This is the largest honey bee in the world.......if that's a worker I don't even wanna think of how big the queens are.*Eeek!*
Once again Wikipedia provides some substantial info. Honestly how many different honey bees are there in the world?
The insect world never ceases to amaze me. I like honey bees. So I'm pleasantly surprised that there are so many.
I wonder if they're any in other colors besides blacks, reds, and browns?
Anyway on with the info!
Apis dorsata laboriosa, the Himalayan honey bee, is the world’s largest honey bee; single adults can measure up to 3.0 cm (1.2 in) in length. Before 1980, Apis dorsata laboriosa was considered to be a subspecies of the widespread Apis dorsata, the giant honey bee, but in 1980 and for almost 20 years thereafter it was elevated to the rank of a separate species.
There are three different types of Apis dorsata laboriosa honey: spring or red honey that is collected at higher altitudes, spring honey collected at mid and lower altitudes, and autumn honey from any site. Red honey has an intoxicating effect and various relaxing qualities that decrease over storage.
It is not consumed locally as it is valuable, and honey hunters prefer to sell it at a high price. As hive bees are not kept at such high altitudes, Apis dorsata laboriosa is the only bee species to produce this honey.
The wholesale price of the red honey is about five times the price of regular honey from Apis mellifera or Apis cerana and large amounts of it are exported from Nepal to Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong. The red honey is prized for its purported medicinal value and intoxicating qualities.
Who knew honey could be used for medicinal purposes? You learn something new everyday.
The rest of the info can be found here. Although it's not much as I used most of it. XD
See why I love them so much? Many different species and interesting facts!
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