![]() ![]() Bumble bees are important pollinators of our food plants. Queens overwinter in small holes just beneath or on the ground’s surface, emerging in spring to create new colonies they begin by laying eggs. Except for new queens, which hibernate during winter, bumble bee colonies die in late fall. Usually located underground, particularly in abandoned holes made by rodents, bumble bee hives usually include between 50 and 500 individuals. Like honey bees, bumble bees live socially in hives which provide shelter and a place to raise their young. The bumble bees, 49 species of which are found in the United States, are the exception. The vast majority of our native bees are solitary and don’t form hives or have queens. Bumble bees live in colonies of between 50 and 500 individuals. Unlike most native bees, but like honey bees, bumble bees are social insects that live in colonies. Here are a few more facts you may not have heard about bumble bees: 1. But native bees play critical roles as pollinators as well, and among these indigenous insects, bumble bees are champs. Native to Europe, honey bees were introduced to North America during the 1600s and have been busily pollinating our crops and other plants ever since. ![]() Your comments for the queens you bought from us are welcome.If asked to name a key pollinator in the United States, you’re likely to think first of the honey bee.We use both natural mating and instrumental insemination in our breeding program.Italians are light colored, most leather colored, but some strains are golden. Colonies tend to maintain larger populations through winter, so they require more winter stores (or feeding) than other temperate zone races. They are very gentle, not terribly inclined to swarm, and produce a large surplus of honey. They are kept commercially all over the world. The most commonly kept race in North America, South America and southern Europe. One of the most favorite bee for commercial honey producers. (*Available crossed with the Greek races with excellent results).Īpis mellifera ligustica, classified by Spinola, 1806 * Pack brood nest with honey for good wintering. It is the honeybee with the largest tongue. Queens & drones are dark (black & grey), while workers are grey. This race is regarded as being very gentle and fairly industrious. Pack brood nest with honey for wintering.Īpis mellifera caucasica, classified by Pollmann, 1889 It does not do well in areas with long, hot summers. It is a mountain bee in its native range, and is a good bee for cold climates. The Carniolan tends to be quite dark in color, and the colonies are known to shrink to small populations over winter, and build very quickly in spring. The difference between Macedonica and Cecropia is that Macedonica is gentler as it is one of the nearest relatives of the Carniolan bees.The Cecropia is ideal for use in breeding, passing on high fecundity without bad temper.īetter known as the Carniolan honeybee - popular with beekeepers due to its extreme gentleness. She produces a lot of honey especially in early spring honey flows. there is no air space between the honey and the capping. Swarming tendency is high.Like Caucasia, Cecropia bees are notorious for their heavy use of propolis, at the hive entrance and inside the hive. The breeding of brood starts early in the spring and makes big colonies. In our center you can order the following queens:Īpis mellifera cecropia, classified by Kiesenwetter, 1860Ĭecropia (west and south Greece) and Macedonica (east and north Greece) bee are the Greekbee races. ![]()
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