Short Overview About Italian Bees
Italian bees, also known as Apis Mellifera Ligustica, are one of the most common honey bee species found in the world. Originally from Italy, these bees have been introduced to various regions around the globe and are widely used for commercial honey production and pollination purposes.
Appearance
- bee are slightly smaller than other bee species, measuring between 10 and 15 mm in length.
- They have a distinctive yellow-golden colour with a light brown band across the thorax and a brownish-black abdomen.
- bee have three stripes on their thorax, with two stripes on the head and two on the abdomen.
- Italian bee have two long, slender antennae on their head, which they use for sensing and communicating with each other.
- They have two pairs of wings, which are used for flying and hovering over flowers to gather nectar and pollen.
- Their legs have brushes of hair, which they use to clean their antennae and remove pollen from their bodies.
Life Cycle
- The queen bee lays fertilized or unfertilized eggs in individual cells in the hive.
- Fertilized eggs develop into female worker bees, while unfertilized eggs develop into male drones.
- The eggs hatch into larvae within three days. Worker bees feed the larvae a mixture of regurgitated nectar and bee pollen, known as “bee bread.”
- After five to six days, the larvae spin a cocoon and transform into pupae. During this stage, the pupae undergo metamorphosis and develop into adult bees.
- After 12 to 14 days, adult bees emerge from the pupae.
Italian Bees Habits
- Italian bee are diligent in maintaining their hives, cleaning cells, and removing debris and dead bees.
- They are known for their high queen acceptance rate and are often used in commercial beekeeping to produce queen bees.
- Italian bees are prone to swarming, which is a natural process of colony expansion. This behaviour helps to increase the size of the colony and spread the species.
- They are social insects and communicate with each other to maintain the health and stability of their hives.
- They are aggressive when it comes to protecting their hives and will defend against intruders and predators.
- They are are known for their tendency to rob other hives for food and resources, which can be a problem for beekeepers.
- Italian bees are relatively resistant to diseases and parasites, making them a popular choice for beekeepers.
- Like many bee species, Italian bees are most active in the spring and summer months when nectar sources are abundant. Their activity levels decrease in the winter months.