Scientific name: Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758

Classification: Phylum: Arthropoda. Class: Insecta. Order: Hymenoptera. Family: Apidae

Origin: Introduced

Status: Common

Distribution: All the main islands

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This familiar insect was intentionally introduced to the Islands in 1857 for its honey and to help pollinate crops. Unfortunately, its aggressive pollination habits have had a negative impact on our native pollinators by limiting their resources. This has led to the reduction of populations of many native bees and, as a result, some of our native plants that depend on native bees for pollination have declined or have gone extinct.