This can be a confusing topic, as both “honeybee” and “honey bee” spellings are often found in many documents, articles and websites. So how do you know which is correct?
The Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary spells it as one word, honeybee.
Honey Bee
Entomologists use two words if the common name also describes the order to which an insect belongs. For example, house flies are true flies, so spelled with two words. Butterflies are not truly flies, thus spelled as one word. Yellowjackets are not yellow colored clothing, hence spelled as one word. Honey bees are true bees, and as such spelled as two words.
Another example, from Anatomy of the Honey Bee by R. E. Snodgrass, states that Honeybee is the equivalent to “Johnsmith”, while Honey Bee is akin to “John Smith”.
Conclusion
Honeybee is the layman’s spelling and customary in literature, while honey bee is the scientifically correct spelling.
