Hi all.
I am 16, and last year I got my first bee hive. All is going well, but I've never been 100% certain what type of bee I have. I thought it was Apis mellifera ligustica. However today I was looking at the different sub species of Apis mellifera and am now having my doubts. Here are some pictures:
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Thank you for any help.
(by the way, my location is Far North Queensland, Australia)
Most people would call those Italians. Apis mellifera ligustica.
What are the defining features of Apis Mellifera ligustica? How would you Identify them?
As far as looking at them, they are that color. :) As far as traits:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesraces.htm#italian
It looks like all of those bees in the picture are Itialian's. Most of my hives have a mixture of different colored bees. Mutts. If you find the same, that is good. The variety helps the hive survive.
Jim
Quote from: sawdstmakr on May 19, 2015, 12:33:04 PM
It looks like all of those bees in the picture are Itialian's. Most of my hives have a mixture of different colored bees. Mutts. If you find the same, that is good. The variety helps the hive survive.
Jim
So you have different sub species of bees in same hives? How does that work?
Thanks for the reply.
Mutts are from a queen that has mated with different types of drones on her 15-20 mating flights...its sort of like genetic roulette as to which sperm she uses to fertilize the eggs of her "species" which creates a random selection of cross breeds. If the queen is raised commercially in a bee yard and all or most drones are of a certain species you get a homogeneous looking hive whereas if the queen has access to several different species of drones its a mix and match look.....benefits to both scenarios that the more experienced beeks can elaborate on.
It works pretty well for getting bees that can survive with no treatments of any kind. The workers have different genetics that help with hygienics. Some can handle the SHB's, some handle the mites. It helps.
Jim
Quote from: Termite.sv on May 18, 2015, 05:16:57 AM
Hi all.
I am 16, and last year I got my first bee hive. All is going well, but I've never been 100% certain what type of bee I have. I thought it was Apis mellifera ligustica. However today I was looking at the different sub species of Apis mellifera and am now having my doubts. Here are some pictures:
(//)
Thank you for any help.
(by the way, my location is Far North Queensland, Australia)
Quote from: Michael Bush on May 18, 2015, 08:46:10 AM
Most people would call those Italians. Apis mellifera ligustica.
Michael Bush
Can you tell Asian honey bee from Italian honey bees just by looking at them ?
Asian honey bees innovation species in Queensland, Australia
Asian honey bee (Apis cerana)
Do you know if the Asian honey and the Italian honey bee honey bee can mate with each other ??
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive-species/insects-and-other-invertebrates/invasive-bees
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :smile: