Does anyone keep native black honey bees?

[Chris Ibbo]

I'm interested in keeping black bees (Apis Mellifera Mellifera) and wanted to get the opinion of people who already keep them. Can anyone help enlighten me more?

 

[Tdf]

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2708

 

[sandysman]

I know there are keepers in North Yorks that have them. Might be worth contacting one of the North Yorks BKA's.

Andy

 

[Chris Ibbo]

Thanks Andy I'll give them a ring.

 

[keith pierce]

I have native black bees and last year they averaged about 115lb per hive. It will be intersting to see how they fare this year. I should know by the end of next week.

 

[Poly Hive]

Have you done wing measurements?

PH

 

[For want of a better word]

I'm interested in keeping black bees (Apis Mellifera Mellifera) and wanted to get the opinion of people who already keep them. Can anyone help enlighten me more?

google BiPCO !

 

[keith pierce]

Have you done wing measurements?

PH

http://www.bipco.org.uk/ About 6 or 7 years ago i sent off a few sample from some of my hives for wing morphometery and they came back at about 70%. Its not that high up on my list and think very few people rely on it. I have swapped around genetics with different people from across the country, that have done mophometery on their bees with some coming back at 100% within the limits fo apis meliffera meliffera.

 

[For want of a better word]

Have you done wing measurements?

PH

Has anyone tried the FREE version... comments please!

http://www.cybis.se/cbeewing/download/index.htm

 

[Chris Ibbo]

I've just registered with the BiPCO site and ask the question of finding good quality black bees. Thanks

 

[Poly Hive]

Beewing type programs came in after I finished working with the black bee but from the old fashioned way I quite often had results off the AMM scale, esp Discodial off the 10 mark.

I sampled one apiary up close to Elgin and from 100 hives for sale I bought 15 I think it was and all of them were off the scale or close to it.

PH

 

[mbc]

I have native black bees and last year they averaged about 115lb per hive. It will be intersting to see how they fare this year. I should know by the end of next week.

I have native black bees and last year they averaged about 35lb per hive, b******d "!

 

[Chris Ibbo]

Keith do you know what strain and how pure your black bees are? You'll Have to keep me posted on the honey collection cuz that's was an amazing amount last year.

 

[ultreen1]

I collected a swarm in July, black queen and black bees!
All I can say about them is they are the first colony to be out working in morning and the last in the evening!

 

[Chris Ibbo]

The more I find out about the black bee the more I like them. They just seem to be hard working, friendly, happy little bees.

 

[Poly Hive]

And some will have you running for cover. They are not all friendly cuddly ladies I can assure you.

PH

 

[Chris Luck]

There I can safely agree with Poly, some can be near on impossible to deal with, come at you in an attacking black cloud and take many hours to all go back in the hive after they have been left alone.

You want softies go for Italians, (bees or ice cream that is).

Chris

 

[keith pierce]

And some will have you running for cover. They are not all friendly cuddly ladies I can assure you.

PH

i am surprised at you saying that. Its the same when any of the races cross out you get aggression.

 

[Poly Hive]

Not talking about crosses but true AMM.

One thing you will find is I tell it as it is.

Ask the beekeeping father at Pluscarden Abbey about AMM temper...LOL

Obviously you dinna breed from colonies like that.

PH

 

[keith pierce]

Was there mophemetry done on them or were they just dark looking bees.