Black bees

[jayj200]

Just caught a swarm yesterday

wife doesn't want any more. so I cave them away.

in the dark with a flashlight they looked black. as we opened the box

any ideas or comments?

If they are calm enough I'll troll for more

[10framer]

if they're like the old black bees they won't be calm.  they'll run on the comb and every time you move a hair while you're working them a half a dozen will rush to sting it. 

[jalentour]

I just looked them up on wiki. Seems there are different temperaments that go along with the black bees. Interesting read.

[biggraham610]

Pictures please.............. :jerry:

[jayj200]

Sorry I gave them away. with the stipulation if they are nice calm bees, I want some

[biggraham610]

Nice stipulation...... Good luck. I have a couple hives that have gotten alot blacker after open mating replacement queens. They are still easy to work, they have their moments, but they all do i suppose. G :chop:

[Rmcpb]

My best queen at present id totally black. her hive is very productive and gentle so I am not sure you can say all black bees are hard to handle.

[BeeMaster2]

German Black bees were the ones that were very defensive. By all reports, they are extinct. THere is probably still some of their genetics in our bees. It could also bee one of our other bees that are dark.
Jim

[10framer]

i've got a lot of black bees in my area.  the workers don't really look like i remember the german bees, but it's been almost 20 years since i've seen any.  they are mean as all get out, though. the german bees were a lot like the reports i hear about africanized bees.  they would come out to meet you before you even got into a hive.  i keep trying to eliminate the hotter bees in my beeyard and it's a never ending battle.  i'm 3-5 generations into open mated queens and queens that look like pure italians still throw black workers and black queens now and then.  i don't have mite or beetle problems and i only use brood breaks for treatment.  a few extra stings is a fair trade i guess.