How many members are typically found in a healthy colony of honey bees?

A healthy colony of honey bees typically consists of 20,000 to 80,000 bees. This range reflects the ideal size for a colony, especially during peak foraging season in the spring and summer when the hive is most active. In such conditions, the population supports a variety of tasks including brood rearing, nectar and pollen collection, and hive maintenance.

Additionally, a robust population is crucial for the efficiency of these activities, as it ensures that enough worker bees are available to perform different roles simultaneously. The queen relies on the worker bees to maintain the colony's health and productivity, reinforcing the significance of having a sufficient number of members.

While other options provided numbers that fall outside the typical range for a healthy colony, they do not accurately represent the standard population size during the active season. It’s important to recognize that variations can occur due to environmental factors, but the established range of 20,000 to 80,000 bees is most indicative of a thriving hive.