{{short description|Scientific study of bees}} thumb|A honeybee drinking water
'''Melittology''' (from Greek {{lang|grc|μέλιττα}}, ''melitta'', "bee"; and {{lang|grc|-λογία}} ''-logia'') is a branch of entomology concerning the scientific study of bees. It can also be called '''apiology''' or apicology. Melittology covers the species found in the clade Anthophila within the superfamily Apoidea, comprising more than 20,000 species,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pestworldforkids.org/pest-guide/bees/|title=Bees - Facts About Bees - Types of Bees - PestWorldforKids.org|website=pestworldforkids.org|access-date=2016-04-26}}</ref> including bumblebees and honey bees. Managed bees, like honeybees and some bumblebees, account for a small percentage of all bee species.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nesbit |first=Miles Liam |last2=Montauban |first2=Cecilia |last3=Windram |first3=Francis |last4=Pérez |first4=Miguel Santiago Bailey |last5=Hughes |first5=William O. H. |last6=Goulson |first6=Dave |last7=Gill |first7=Richard J. |last8=Graystock |first8=Peter |date=2026-03-10 |title=Mapping global bee research with traits and plant-pollinator interaction networks |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-41830-7 |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |doi=10.1038/s41598-026-41830-7 |issn=2045-2322|doi-access=free }}</ref>
==Subdivisions== * ''Apiology'' – (from Latin {{lang|la|apis}}, "bee"; and Ancient Greek {{lang|grc|-λογία}}, ''-logia'') is the scientific study of honey bees.{{cn|date=November 2024}} Honey bees are commonly an example for analysis of social systems. :* ''Apidology'' is a variant spelling of ''apiology'' used outside of the Western Hemisphere, primarily in Europe; it is sometimes used interchangeably with ''melittology''.
==Melittological societies== Melittologists and apiologists are served by a number of scientific societies, both national and international in scope. Their main role is to encourage the study of bees and apicultural research. * ''International Bee Research Association'' * ''British Beekeepers Association'' * ''German Beekeepers Association'' * ''Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations''
==Melittological journals== * ''[https://www.apidologie.org Apidologie]'' * ''[https://americanbeejournal.com American Bee Journal]'' * ''Journal of Apicultural Research'' * ''Journal of Melittology''
== See also == *Beekeeping *I Have a Bee, worldwide organization for hobby beekeepers *Vespology *Melissopalynology
===Melittologists === * Eva Crane (12 June 1912 – 6 September 2007), founded the Bee Research Association which later became the International Bee Research Association.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=IBRA |date=2007-09-01 |title=Obituary: Dr Eva Crane OBE |url=https://doi.org/10.3896/ibra.1.46.3.obit |journal=Journal of Apicultural Research |pages=210 |doi=10.3896/ibra.1.46.3.obit |issn=0021-8839|url-access=subscription }}</ref> * Thomas William Cowan (1840–1926), former cofounder and president of the British Beekeepers' Association.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yEcuAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA397 |title=Who's who: ... an Annual Biographical Dictionary, with which is Incorporated "Men and Women of the Time." |date=1907 |publisher=A. & C. Black |language=en}}</ref> Designed the cylindrical honey extractor * Jeffery Pettis, head of Apimondia
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{BeeColonyMemberTypes}} {{Zoology}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Melittology}} Category:Bees Category:Subfields of entomology * Category:Sociobiology