* Honey: This refers to the sweet, viscous substance the bee produces and stores. Humans have harvested honey from bee colonies for millennia, making it a defining feature associated with the insect.
* Bee: This is an older word of Germanic origin, related to words like "beon" in Old English. Its exact etymology is debated, but it's likely connected to buzzing sounds and the busy nature of these insects.
Therefore, "honey bee" is a descriptive name that highlights the bee's most prominent attribute—its production and storage of honey.