Although many people think of golden honeybees that feed on flowering plants and make honey in their hives, bees are actually a very diverse species. Honeybees are only one of about 20,000 different types of bees! The Best Bees Company is very interested in bee species, how they behave, and how we can help improve the overall population. So much so that Noah Wilson-Rich, co-founder and chief scientific officer, wrote a book called The Bee: A Natural History about them.
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With the help of information from Noah’s book, we will talk about the different types of bee families and types of bees, as well as how to find and attract these pollinators and how to help them.
Queen bees are incredibly important members of a honey bee colony There are different types of queen bees, depending on the subspecies Each queen has her own physical characteristics and behavioral traits that make her suitable for certain environments. Understanding the distinctions between the most common queen bee breeds can help beekeepers choose the right one for their needs.
In a honey bee hive, there is only one queen bee. She is the mother of all the other bees in the colony. Her sole job is to lay eggs – up to 2000 per day! Queens develop from fertilized eggs and are fed royal jelly during development which triggers queen morphology. Queens mate early in life, storing sperm to fertilize eggs. They can live 2-5 years. If the queen dies, workers select a larva to become the new queen. Since the queen determines the genetic makeup of a colony, her traits heavily influence the hive.
Italian Queens
Italian honey bees (Apis mellifera ligustica) originate from Italy and are a very popular breed for beekeepers. Italian queen bees tend to be gentle, good honey producers, and excellent comb builders. They are also less prone to swarming and overwinter well.
Identifying traits:
- Golden yellow bands on abdomen
- Long dark brown abdomen
- Fast spring buildup in temperate climates
Benefits:
- Gentle temperament
- Large brood production
- Excellent foragers
Potential drawbacks:
- Prone to robbing behavior
- Tendency to drift between hives
Carniolan Queens
Carniolan honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica) are native to parts of Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, and Hungary. Carniolan queens are known for their overwintering ability and adaptability. They are extremely gentle, making them a top choice for urban beekeeping.
Identifying traits:
- Steel gray coloration
- Extra furry abdomens
- Good tolerance for cold climates
Benefits:
- Gentle nature
- Strong resistance to mites
- Excellent winter survivors
Potential drawbacks:
- Can be overly sensitive to noise
- Tend to swarm more frequently
Cordovan Queens
Cordovan honey bees are a color variant of the Italian subspecies. Their queens have rich reddish-brown abdomens instead of the typical black and yellow banding. This trait is caused by a simple recessive genetic mutation. Cordovan queens will produce colonies with a unique look.
Identifying traits:
- Solid burnt orange abdomen
- Sometimes a bit of yellow on thorax
Benefits:
- Very gentle temperament
- Unique colony appearance
- Good honey producers
Potential drawbacks:
- Hybrid vigor is lost from inbreeding
- Can be harder to find commercially
Russian Queens
Russian honey bees (Apis mellifera caucasica) were imported to the US from eastern Russia in the 1990s. Russian queens and their colonies have excellent resistance to Varroa mites. This makes them ideal for beekeepers battling parasitic mites.
Identifying traits:
- Dark brown to black coloring
- Noticeably smaller bodies
- Excellent Varroa tolerance
Benefits:
- High resistance to Varroa mites
- Good at hygienic behaviors
- Overwinter well in cold climates
Potential drawbacks:
- Can be defensive and swarm inclined
- Slow spring buildup
Choosing the Right Queen Bee
When selecting a queen bee to start or replenish a colony, carefully consider your climate, beekeeping goals, and personal preferences. Italian and Carniolan queens are great all-purpose options. Seek out mite-resistant Russian or hygienic queens if pests are a problem. Pick Cordovan for their dazzling color. Regardless of which queen type you choose, proper care and management will help her and the colony thrive.
Bumble Bees (Genus Bombus)
Bumble bees are all members of the family Apidae and are placed in the tribe Bombini. They are social bees that live in South America and the northern hemisphere. There are about 250 species of them in the world. Most species are temperate, although a few are tropical. Bumble bees are big and furry, and they can fly in cool weather because they are used to living in mild climates.
Honey bees (Genus Apis)
Honeybees of the genus Apis are very social bees, and they may be at the very top of the tree of bee evolution. They live in large colonies that last for many years. Each colony has a queen that can live for many years, male drones that only show up in the summer, and many sterile workers that only live for a few weeks to many months. These big, complicated colonies need a lot of food stored away in case there is a shortage or cold weather. All species make combs out of wax that the workers secrete. The combs are made up of hexagonal cells arranged in one or more vertical rows.
Beekeeping Involves Selecting The Best Queen Or Does It?
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