The Apis are a bee-like creatures that look like insectoid humanoids. Like bees, they have the color scheme of black and yellow. Their eyes are black and shiny and their joints usually have tufts of hair. The longer extremities such as the forearms, shins, hands, and feet are covered in a soft, almost rubber-like chitin. While the rest of their body is covered with a plush-like material made from a much softer chitin allowing for easy movement and even facial expressions. They do have a pair of wings on their back, but these are rarely good for flying long distances due to their size proportional to their body. Members of the same hive generally share a very similar appearance with the noteworthy visual differences being in size and proportions.   Hive Society
The Apis society is built and relies on the instinctive dedication to the good of the hive exhibited by every member. It is a strict caste system defined by one's birth and usefulness to the Hive. The vast majority of the species is born female, leading to a powerful matriarchy.
The four places in the society that exists are Drones, the only gathering of males in the species who are treated more like royal treasures than individuals. Workers, the most numerous and often overlooked section of the society. They are in charge of maintaining the intricate structure of the Hive. Soldiers, the powerhouses and highest ranking below the queens. They are dangerous warriors and well trained in air-based combat. Finally, the Queens, The matriarchs of the Apis society, they are highly revered for a good reason. They are the only Apis capable of laying eggs, making them the most valuable of all Apis. If you dare offend or harm a Queen, be prepared to pay the price.   Bee polite
The Apis act much like regular bees in that they usually ignore anything that is not a threat, but will immediately destroy anything that is a threat. They fight absolutely fearlessly, sometimes diving headfirst into battle against enemies that most hardened knights would retreat from in the defense of their Hive. As far as the Apis are concerned, every single apis is perfectly replaceable, especially workers, so sacrificing themselves for the hive is what is expected.
This behaviour has caused some to mistakenly believe that the Apis are a xenophobic and aggressive people and thus avoid seeking them out. However those who do make contact tend to find that the Apis are generally very friendly as long as you prove you mean no harm to them or their Hive.
In addition the Apis has little need for trade as each Hive is self-sufficient and the population controlled to avoid resource shortages. And as they generally don't use any currency within or between their own Hives there is little incentive for merchants or traders to reach out to them.   Hive there neighbour
When it comes to relations with other Apis Hives however they are highly territorial. Since each Hive requires a large area to forage food from there can often be conflicts if two Hives are too close together. In extreme cases war has even broken out between Hives with the goal to slay the opposing Queen and raze their Hive in order to eliminate the competition. As such it is rare to have more than one Hive within a weeks travel from one another. However as long as Hives maintain a healthy distance from each others borders their relationship is usually amicable.
  Living the Hive life
Life as an Apis starts out as an egg laid by the Queen which after hatching goes through several stages of growth before becoming a full adult at around 1 years of age. Young Apis very rarely leave the Hive and spend most of their time either creating wax and honey for the Workers or training in the case of the Soldiers. As the Apis grows older and gains more experience they are then assigned additional duties such as caring raising the young or guarding the entrances to the Hive. It is only in the later half of their life that they leave the Hive to forage, scout, or actively engage outside threats.
Most Hives build only a few structures on the surface, usually made of wood, wax, and paper-like materials, while the majority of the Hive is contained underground. As a medium sized Hive can contain up to 10,000 individuals there is little excess free space and while the Apis don't mind the few visitors who have ever entered a Hive found it cramped and disorienting.