Honey Bees
The following will explore the primary species of honey bees, each with unique traits and roles in pollination. From their behaviors to their ecological impact, these fascinating insects play a vital part in sustaining biodiversity. Let's dive into their world!
Apis mellifera scutellata
The Panama Africanized bee (Apis mellifera scutellata hybrid) is a highly aggressive and territorial species, reacting swiftly to threats and attacking in large numbers. These bees can pursue dangers 2-4 times farther than European honey bees, an adaptation to the tropical environment.
Despite their defensive nature, they are efficient foragers and produce significant honey yields. However, their tendency to abscond in response to environmental changes makes them challenging for commercial beekeeping.
Apis mellifera carnica
The Carniolan bee (Apis mellifera carnica) is a gentle, adaptable, and highly efficient honey bee originating from Central Europe. It is prized for its calm temperament, making it a preferred choice for beekeepers. Carniolan bees are excellent foragers, rapidly expanding their colonies in early spring, which contributes to high honey yields. Their long tongue enables them to collect nectar from deep flowers, increasing their foraging range. While they thrive in temperate climates, they struggle to adapt to warm and humid regions like Panama, where their productivity and colony stability may decline.
Apis mellifera lingustica
The Italian bee (Apis mellifera ligustica) is a gentle, highly productive bee subspecies, known for its docile temperament.​
These bees are excellent foragers, maintaining strong colony growth throughout the season. Their long tongue allows them to access nectar from deep flowers, contributing to high honey yields. However, they have a high tendency to rob other hives, which can lead to disease transmission. Additionally, they require large food reserves for winter survival and may struggle in humid tropical climates like Panama.
Apis melifera hybrid
The Buckfast bee (Apis mellifera hybrid) is a gentle, resilient, and highly productive honey bee. It is prized for its low aggression, making hive management easier for beekeepers. These bees exhibit strong disease resistance, particularly against tracheal mites, and adapt well to various climates. Buckfast bees are excellent foragers, maintaining high honey yields throughout the season. They have a low swarming tendency, reducing colony losses, and overwinter efficiently with minimal honey consumption. However, Panama does not host many Buckfast bees, often chased away by the highly agressive Africanized bees.
