Who goes there?

amandrea · July 01, 2007, 07:53:49 PM

I've spent a lot of hours sitting by my hive in Bound Brook, central NJ, watching my girls and so I know they are 100% Italian. (Bound Brook was a destination for Italian immigrants, now attracting lots of Spainish) Looking at the clover and other flowers I can always find another bee, It is the size and appearance of mine but is very dark, I want to call it black or gray black. What could this be?

n9kww · July 01, 2007, 08:04:43 PM

Carni most likely..
they came fom the Italy to begin with

Michael Bush · July 02, 2007, 01:07:31 AM

Black is likely carni or the old German black bees. Grey is likely Caucasian.

amandrea · July 03, 2007, 09:58:49 PM

Never heard of carni, can't find any info either. Will look for pictures of the caucasian to compare with. Very interesting. Neihbors probabaly think I weird, stand and looking at the grass.

Hi-Tech · July 04, 2007, 12:44:26 AM

I have caucasians from Mr Bill Gaffords line and they are very dark, almost black.

rdy-b · July 04, 2007, 01:20:36 AM

Is there a source for queens that are not hybridized to the point of no return . 8-) RDY-B

Hi-Tech · July 04, 2007, 01:45:58 AM

HOMAN-McMASTER APIARIES
503 CR 520
Shannon, MS 38868
phone: 662-767-3880 or
662-767-8923
- italian, caucasian

these are mixed some but not too bad...

rdy-b · July 04, 2007, 01:50:01 AM

thank you bee brother :) RDY-B

rdy-b · July 04, 2007, 02:00:53 AM

I have tony Homan apiaries formerly Homan-mcmasters . different number is your number to date Tell me about the caucasian bees you have been working would like to hear any difference in the strain available 8-) RDY-B

Sean Kelly · July 04, 2007, 06:16:15 AM

Could be something native too like the orchard mason bee or a smaller bumble or even a fly that resembles a bee. I was checkin my blackberry bushes today and counted 7 different bees. None of them looked like my honeybees. Several kinds of bumbles and mason bees. There were a few that looked Italian but were almost twice the size and dark brown. Take some pics, that would be a big help. I'm gunna do the same tomorrow.

Sean Kelly

amandrea · July 04, 2007, 09:14:05 AM

Good idea. I have been looking with no success for good photos of different types of bees. I"d like to see a photo catalog I could use to identify everyone working the flowers with my girls.

Hi-Tech · July 04, 2007, 10:02:43 AM

You probably have the right number. It was Tony we got them from. The bees are VERY gentle and were the only hives that made it through winter. I will be getting more soon.

Michael Bush · July 05, 2007, 11:14:00 PM

>carni

Carni=Carniolan

rdy-b · July 05, 2007, 11:54:41 PM

http://www.badassbees.com/bees2/carny.jpg