Step 1: Understanding linkage groups.
A linkage group corresponds to one chromosome. Thus, the number of linkage groups in an organism is equal to its haploid chromosome number.
Step 2: Chromosome number in honey bees.
Honey bees show haplodiploidy. Females (workers and queens) are diploid with 2n = 32, while males (drones) are haploid with n = 16.
Step 3: Relating linkage groups to chromosomes.
Since linkage groups correspond to the haploid set of chromosomes, honey bees have 16 linkage groups.
Step 4: Conclusion.
The number of linkage groups in honey bees is 16.