What are Black Honey Bees?

Black Honey Bees in America

There are numerous races of honey bees in the US, despite there being only one species. They can all interbreed, resulting in a wide variety of genetic lineages.

Over time, different ones have become available for beekeepers to purchase. Which ones are promoted depends on the requirements and preferences of the beekeeping community.

The German Black Honey Bee is a honey bee that was once common in the US. They served as the cornerstone of American beekeeping. They are essentially nonexistent today.

Southern France is where the dark bee of Northern Europe first appeared. They then expanded throughout Northern and Eastern Europe from there. Apis mellifera mellifera is another name for this species, also known as the German Black Bee. The thorax and abdomen of these insects are dark.

Remember also that we are talking about genetics rather than the many colors. The darkest bees are not all Apis Mellifera mellifera. Russian and Carniolan ancestry also tend to produce darker people.

It is likely that early colonists helped them get to America. In order to get to the new nation, Hives boarded ships.

Honey and wax were sought after by colonists. Beeswax and honey are precious materials with a wide range of applications.

Even these colonial beekeepers realized how important pollination by bees is. Orchards and vegetable gardens that have beehives nearby generate more crops than those without.

In the new world, the traditional bee skep gave way to wooden bee boxes in a variety of designs and log hives. In the US, honey bees are not a native species. However, beehives were first constructed in the Virginia region in 1622.

The Black Honey Bee thrived in the New World, where there were plenty of sources for pollen and nectar. Like all thriving colonies, they multiplied and created new feral colonies. They expanded throughout the US for more than 200 years.

Up until the middle of the 1800s, beekeepers had no other choice but to use them. The importation of Italian bees occurred at this time. Why import additional honey bees if we have enough already?

The genetic makeup of each variety of bee varies. Defensiveness versus composure, good honey production, and swarm propensity or susceptibility are a few of these traits. Concerning hive management, all are significant to beekeepers.

There was a reputation for the German Black Bees being particularly aggressive individuals. They were aggressive, stingy, runny on the comb, and prone to biting.

Having a hive that was simpler to manage was desirable to beekeepers who needed to tend to their hives. Since both of them are European honey bees, it is hoped that the Italians will contribute to the gene pool.

The Italian and Black bees were allowed to interbreed because they were of the same species but with distinct races. Unfortunately, the black bees’ hybrid offspring tended to be much more aggressive when they mated with other species.

Selective Breeding

Honey bee selective breeding is still being done today. Researchers want to create a bee with exceptional characteristics. We wish them the best in every way: tranquility, honey production, and mite resistance.

We eventually came to the place we are in now over time. If you don’t purchase bees from a certain breeder, you’ll get “mutt” bees.

They are a hybrid of many distinct genetic strains and racial groups that have been introduced to the nation.

What Happened to Black Bees

Fewer of the first colonies were still around as beekeepers bred for desired traits. They mainly only managed to remain pure in isolated areas where feral colonies lacked foreign genetics.

The feral population was greatly reduced, nevertheless, when Varroa mites arrived in the US in the 1980s. The original German Black Honey Bee is probably not alive today in the United States, according to beekeepers.

They are not entirely gone, though, so that is not true. Genetic markers identified in laboratory testing serve as evidence that their genetic contribution is still present.

The concept of those vintage colonies appeals to many elderly beekeepers. Many claim they were more resilient, capable of withstanding the cold, and more fruitful.

The European foulbrood was more prone to them while being a certainly hardy insect. Wax moth annoyance was also more common among them.

The genetics of the German Black Bees may not have been the only factor in those earlier, more prosperous days of beekeeping. In beekeeping, it was also before varroa. That would have been so fantastic, and I cannot even imagine.

Although the bees in our current colonies are darker in color than those in the first colonies, they are not the same. If you still have a hankering for a nighttime bee encounter, there are a few feral colonies known to exist in far-off places.

European Dark Bees are now being widely cultivated in Northern and Western Europe by beekeepers and bee farms since they are more suited to the chilly and severe climate in these regions.

These could still have a significant amount of those early genetics.

FAQ

Are black bees honey bees?

The German black bee, or Apis mellifera mellifera, was the first honey bee introduced to the New World. It is native to northern Europe. They overwinter well and have a brown or black tint. German black bees have a jittery, combative temperament that slowly builds up in the spring.

Are black honey bees aggressive?

The black bee has a high level of predator (wasp) control, is hardy, and is kind. It also has a low tendency to swarm.

Are There Black Honey Bees?

Only one species of honey-producing bee is totally black by nature, and that is the European Dark Bee.

Other honey bee species could have a genetic mutation that causes them to turn black, or other bees could rub off some of their exterior hair, giving them that appearance. After succumbing to specific infections, bees may be discovered to be black.

What honey are bees native to the US?

Honey bees are not indigenous to North America. In the 17th century, they were first brought to America from Europe.

Honey bees are currently used to pollinate a variety of American crops, including fruits and nuts. One colony of honey bees may collect roughly 265 pounds of nectar and 40 pounds of pollen in a single year.