Of the 20,000 bee species worldwide, only nine are honey bees, known for living in colonies and producing honey. This unique behavior has led humans to domesticate honey bees, keeping them for their honey and pollination services. Some honey bees live in the wild, while others, like those managed by Alvéole, are cared for by beekeepers.
Wild bees, on the other hand, include the vast majority of bee species—over 20,000 types! This broad category refers to bees that aren't honey producers and often aren't kept by humans. Wild bees display incredible diversity in their appearance, diet, and habits. Examples include bumblebees, which are large and social, and mason bees, which are solitary. Though they don’t produce honey, wild bees are essential pollinators that contribute significantly to urban biodiversity.