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Giant honey bee

Giant honey bee

Apis dorsata

A species of Honey bees, Also known as Common giant honey bee

The giant honey bee (Apis dorsata) is incredibly defensive of their territory. This may be related to humans' honey hunting, where honey is stolen from wild bees. Their nests are built from high, overhanging locations. Much like humans, they are unlikely to build onto an old building due to safety issues. Their nests need to be sturdy, as a colony can reach up to 100 thousand workers.

Toxic to Humans
Toxic to Humans
Toxic to Animals
Toxic to Animals
Does the Giant honey bee sting humans?
Human Stinging
General Info About Giant honey bee
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Attributes of Giant honey bee
Colors
Black
Orange
Habitat
exposed place far off the ground (tree limb; building; under cliff overhang); forest
Adult Food Sources
Nectar, pollen, honey, tree sap, water
Larva Food Source
Royal jelly, worker jelly, pollen, honey, beeswax
Biting/stinging
The Giant honey bee may bite humans actively. Please stay away from it.
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
The Giant honey bee has special defensive behaviors that can trigger an allergic reaction. If there are serious reactions, seek IMMEDIATE medical attention.
Venomous
The Giant honey bee can induce toxic reactions varying in severity. Nevertheless, these toxins primarily target their prey and predators and are usually not fatal to humans.
Non-poisonous
Not reported
Borer
Not reported
Pollinator
The Giant honey bee is often found near the corolla, where its fluffy hairs easily pick up pollen, assisting in the pollination of the plant.
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
The Giant honey bee feeds on plants, usually without causing significant harm. However, it's important to take the situation seriously if their numbers begin to increase significantly.
Predatory
Not reported
Biting animal or pet
Not reported
Mouthparts Type
Chewing-lapping mouthparts
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Species Status of Giant honey bee
It is found from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia. The greatest populations of this species are found in China, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
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Distribution Area of Giant honey bee
South and Southeast Asia
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Appearance of Giant honey bee
They are typically around 1.8 - 2 cm long.
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How to Identify Giant honey bee?

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Life Cycle of Giant honey bee
Egg At this initial stage, the giant honey bee's eggs are laid and incubated until hatching. They are often placed in secure locations, small in size, and barely visible to the naked eye.
Larva The larva of giant honey bee is worm-like, lacking true legs and wings. This stage is dedicated to feeding and rapid growth, resulting in multiple molts as the larva increases in size.
Pupal During the pupal stage, giant honey bee is encased in a cocoon or capped cell and undergoes a significant transformation. The organism is inactive, and external changes are minimal as internal reorganization progresses.
Adult Emerging from the pupa, the adult giant honey bee’s development is marked by the presence of wings and functional reproductive organs. The body is fully formed and hardened, and the adult is mobile, focusing on reproduction.
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Adult Size of Giant honey bee
2 - 3 cm
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Predators of Giant honey bee Larvae
Frogs, toads, birds, mantis, beetles, arachnids
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Predators of Adult Giant honey bee
Birds, wasps, bees, anteaters, bears
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Interesting Facts About Giant honey bee
Giant honey bee can sleep by hanging upside down, relying on their strong mandibles to latch onto surfaces.
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Scientific Classification of Giant honey bee
Class
Bugs
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Order
Bees
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Tips for Finding Giant honey bee
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Youth Habitat of Giant honey bee
Forests and Woodlands, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas, Urban and Suburban Areas
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Adult Habitat of Giant honey bee
Forests and Woodlands, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas, Urban and Suburban Areas, Tropical Rainforests
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How Can You Attract Giant honey bee
Sweet substances like sugar water, ripe fruits, or honey can be used as attractants to trap or lure giant honey bee due to their foraging behavior for nectar.
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Habitat Preferences of Giant honey bee Through Different Life Stages
The early stages of giant honey bee develop in large, single-comb, open-air nests, typically found hanging from the branches of tall trees or on cliffs. To find larvae and pupae, one should look up towards these lofty structures, usually in forested areas with an abundance of flower resources. The mature giant honey bee, in contrast, are ubiquitous: they frequent a variety of flowering plants in gardens, fields, and forests, harmoniously bustling from bloom to bloom. For observation, one might choose an area with dense floral activity, particularly where blooms are abundant, as adult giant honey bee will likely be present, tirelessly engaged in foraging duties.
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When is the Best Time to Observe Giant honey bee
The most suitable time to find adult giant honey bee is during warm, sunny days when they are most active, typically in the mid-morning to early afternoon.
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What is the Best Weather to Observe Giant honey bee
Ideal weather conditions for finding giant honey bee are warm, dry, and calm days as they prefer not to forage in the rain, cold, or high winds.
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How and Where Can You Find Giant honey bee at Different Life Stages
Larva Giant honey bee larvae are located inside the hive's brood cells. They can be found by carefully inspecting the brood frames within a beehive during hive management activities.
Pupal During the pupa stage, giant honey bee are also inside the brood cells and can be observed by beekeepers while inspecting the hive's frames that contain capped cells.
Adult Giant honey bee adults can be found on or near flowers as they collect nectar and pollen. Searching flowering plants, especially those that are known to attract bees, is the best way to spot adult giant honey bee.
Are Giant honey bee harmful?
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The giant honey bee can cause toxic reactions with a wide range of severity. However, the toxins are typically targeted at their prey and predators. They are usually not fatal to humans.

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Are Giant honey bee harmful to humans?

Most bees are docile and only sting when they are irritated. The sting needles of bees are sharp and toxic, and people will obviously feel pain after being stung. Some bees may also cause swelling, redness, fever and itching. Some sensitive people may experience more severe symptoms or even death.
Harmful Effects of Giant honey bee
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Toxic to Humans
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Human Stinging
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Toxic to Humans

Giant honey bee are known for their potent defense mechanism, including a sting that can inject neurotoxins into humans. Although generally not lethal, the sting causes immediate pain, swelling, and redness. In rare cases, severe envenomation can lead to dizziness, headache, fever, and vomiting, with potential long-term neurological symptoms.

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Toxic to Animals

Giant honey bee typically uses its sting to inject a mild toxin as a defense mechanism or when it perceives a threat. This can result in discomfort and sometimes allergic reactions in animals such as humans, dogs, cats, and birds. The severity of the reaction varies from species to species and can range from minor irritation to more serious consequences, particularly in humans with allergy sensitivities.

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Does the Giant honey bee sting humans?

Giant honey bee primarily stings humans in defense, especially when colonies are disturbed. Workers are the ones capable of stinging, since males lack a sting. A sting results from an encounter with a perceived threat, often leading to a painful but non-lethal reaction in humans. Reports of fatality are rare and usually relate to allergic responses. Stinging costs the worker giant honey bee its life due to the barbed nature of its stinger, which remains lodged in the victim's skin.

More Effects of Giant honey bee

Beneficial Effects of Giant honey bee
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Explore how insects help as pollinators, pest predators, and biocontrol agents. From seed dispersal to decomposition, they play vital roles in our ecosystem.
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Pollinator
Pollinator
Prefer Plant Type
Asteraceae, Fruit Trees
Attract Plant Feature
Color, Smell
Pollination Behavior Reason
Collect Pollen To Feed Offspring, Eat Pollen Or Nectar
Giant honey bee is a vital pollinator that visits various flowers, particularly favoring Asteraceae and fruit trees. Attracted by the vivid colors and sweet scents, giant honey bee collects pollen to feed its offspring and to consume. During these visits, pollen is transferred between flowers, facilitating plant reproduction.
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