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.