Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) collecting pollen from the flower of an apple tree, Germany

Ingo Arndt / Thermal imaging of Honey bee (Apis mellifera) brood comb. Cooler parts appear darker, warmer parts appear bright in colour. Very bright spots showing worker bees heating brood cells with the help of t...

Ingo Arndt / Thermal imaging of Honey bee (Apis mellifera) brood comb. Cooler parts appear darker, warmer parts appear bright in colour. Very bright spots showing worker bees heating brood cells with the help of t...

Ingo Arndt / Close up of Honey bees (Apis mellifera) forming 'chains' and a 'ball' at the top of their tree hole nest as they establish a colony, Germany.

Ingo Arndt / Honey bees (Apis mellifera), drinking water on hot summer day, Germany

John Waters / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) approaching hive entrance, with trails of departing bees visible. Urban garden, Bristol, UK, May.

John Waters / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) flying close to hive entrance, with flight trails visible. Urban garden, Bristol, UK, May.

Simon Littlejohn / Honey bee (Apis) nectaring from a flowering Eucalyptus tree, Andalusia, Spain, June.

Nick Upton / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) nectaring on a Crab apple (Malus sylvestnis) flower in a garden, Wiltshire, UK, April.

Heather Angel / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) forages on pollen in Apple (Malus domestica) flower, collecting pollen in pollen basket. In garden, Surrey, England, UK. May.

Clay Bolt / Composite image of Wallace's giant bee (Megachile pluto) with European honey bee (Apis melifera). This is the world's largest bee, which is approximately 4 times larger than a European honey bee. One...

Kerstin Hinze / Honeybee (Apis melifera) flying around and nectaring from Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) flowers, Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany, April.

Sven Zacek / Honey bee (Apis mellifera), two frozen on pond ice after flying out too early. Valgamaa, Southern Estonia. March.

John Chan / Honey bees (Apis mellifera) swarming on a fence, Southern California, USA, December.

John Chan / Honey bees (Apis mellifera) gathering at the entrance of their nest in a hollow log, with some returning workers carrying pollen baskets, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, California, USA, October.

John Chan / Honey bees (Apis mellifera) gathering at the entrance to their nest in a hollowed log, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, California, USA, September.

John Chan / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) gathering pollen from a Sea fig (Carpobrotus chilensis), Southern California, USA, April.

John Chan / Honey bees (Apis mellifera) swarming on an old gas tank and establishing a new nest site within, with some individuals beating their wings to create air circulation, Southern California, USA, February...

Solvin Zankl / Honeybee (Apis mellifera) trophallaxis - transfer of nectar from one bee to another, Kiel, Germany.

Solvin Zankl / Honeybee (Apis mellifera) rear view of abdomen, Kiel, Germany.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) feeding larvae in brood cells, Kiel, Germany

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) drinking honey in nest, Kiel, Germany, May.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) drinking honey in nest, Kiel, Germany, May.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen standing surrounded by workers, Kiel, Germany, May.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) swarm, Kiel, Germany, May.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee 1+Apis mellifera+2 worker on freshly made honey comb, Kiel, Germany, May.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) worker on freshly made honey comb, Kiel, Germany, May.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) on natural honeycomb, Kiel, Germany, May.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) collecting pollen on Goat willow (Salix caprea) Kiel, Germany, April.

Solvin Zankl / Honeybee (Apis mellifera) on rose flower, Kiel, Germany, July.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) on comb with honey, Kiel, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) on comb with honey, Kiel, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) comb filled with honey, Kiel, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) honey comb mostly covered with wax, Kiel, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) swarm. Kiel Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) swarm. Kiel Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) swarm. Kiel Germany, June

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) swarm. Kiel Germany, June

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) swarm. Kiel Germany, June

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) swarm. Kiel Germany, June

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) adult emerging from brood cell, Kiel, Germany

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) adult emerging from brood cell, Kiel, Germany

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) adult emerging from brood cell, Kiel, Germany

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) adult emerging from brood cell, Kiel, Germany

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers in hive with three white queen cells, Kiel, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bees (Apis mellifera) forming living bridge, Kiel, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bees (Apis mellifera) forming living bridge, Kiel, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bees (Apis mellifera) forming living bridge, Kiel, Germany, June.