"honeybee was the proper term in the US. I would guess us non academic types can use either and no one would be much confused?"
Peter sent me a nice chart showing the evolution of the noun as adjective for honey bee over time.  American English is unique in its frequent use of a noun to modify a noun.  Whether Greenhouse or Honeybee, the progression over time is:  noun-noun, noun noun, and eventually nounnoun.
Last I checked, the Entomological Society of America's proper common name was Honey Bee, as I stated before.  Obviously, we all know that all three variations on the noun as adjective refer to the same insect - honey-bee, honey bee, honeybee.




             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html