Is this a European Honey Bee
Aug 23, 2023 16:01:15 #
Shot today in SE Arizona. It doesn't look quite right for a European Honey Bee
Aug 23, 2023 16:56:51 #
Aug 23, 2023 17:15:40 #
DougS
Loc: Central Arkansas
Yes, it is Apis millifera. There are actually several varieties of European Honey Bees. They have differing characteristics. Like temperament, coloring, size. Russian, Carniolan, Italian, Buckfast, Caucasian, German. And then there are the Africanized...
Aug 23, 2023 17:38:17 #
DougS wrote:
Yes, it is Apis millifera. There are actually several varieties of European Honey Bees. They have differing characteristics. Like temperament, coloring, size. Russian, Carniolan, Italian, Buckfast, Caucasian, German. And then there are the Africanized...
Thanks you for responding Doug
Aug 23, 2023 19:18:19 #
Aug 23, 2023 22:48:13 #
DougS
Loc: Central Arkansas
My wife's Dad raised honey bees. My 1st hive, I bought from a beekeeper who was retiring from beekeeping. They were the MEANEST bees I have ever encountered! BUT, they were also the most prolific workers I ever had(by far!), and wish I had them back! They were a variety known as Apis millifera millifera. Rather dark abdomens. They came out stinger first, no questions asked! I replaced the queen, and the the hive is much gentler, but does not make near as much honey. No beekeepers use them now, and near impossible to find, if at all! Most/nearly all of the modern honey bee varieties rarely sting, some varieties virtually not at all. The one in your photo looks like the Italian variety most beekeepers use, if you try to hold it in your hand, yes it will sting!
Aug 24, 2023 07:11:34 #
Curmudgeon wrote:
Shot today in SE Arizona. It doesn't look quite right for a European Honey Bee
Great image!!Jack
Aug 24, 2023 11:24:48 #
DougS wrote:
Yes, it is Apis millifera. There are actually several varieties of European Honey Bees. They have differing characteristics. Like temperament, coloring, size. Russian, Carniolan, Italian, Buckfast, Caucasian, German. And then there are the Africanized...
I remember when one could buy "Africanized" queen bees from Sears & Roebuck. I bought hive kits from them but didn't need bees as we just collected swarms each spring. That was in the 1960's.
Aug 24, 2023 13:04:03 #
DougS
Loc: Central Arkansas
Don, the 2nd son wrote:
I remember when one could buy "Africanized" queen bees from Sears & Roebuck. I bought hive kits from them but didn't need bees as we just collected swarms each spring. That was in the 1960's.
These would 'fit the bill' of having been "Africanized"! I did not know that they were available that far back. I literally got 7-8 gallons of honey out of that hive that year.
Aug 24, 2023 15:46:28 #
I don't know if they were necessarily Africanized, even if advertised to be.
Aug 25, 2023 17:40:41 #
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