Honeybees pollinate billions of US dollars worth of commercial agricultural crops around the world every year. They are important pollinators for economically important wild plant populations as well.

Honeybee hives provide honey and wax, and pollen, propolis, and royal jelly that are sold for medicines and cosmetics.

Honeybees are important study organisms for research in the connections between nervous system structure and behavior.

Some research suggests honeybee venom may have medically useful applications in the treatment of auto-immune disease or inflammation. (Adjare, 1990; Kang, Pak, and Choi, 2002; Sammataro and Avitabile, 1998)