Apis Mellifera Adami

Apis Mellifera Adonsoni

Apis Mellifera Anatolica

Apis Mellifera Capensis

Apis Mellifera Carnica

Apis Mellifera Carpathica

Apis Mellifera Caucasica

Apis Mellifera Cecropia

Apis Mellifera Cypria

Apis Mellifera Iberica

Apis Mellifera Intermissa

Apis Mellifera Iran(i)

Apis Mellifera Jemenitica

Apis Mellifera Lamarkii (faciata)

Apis Mellifera Ligustica

Apis Mellifera Litorea

Apis Mellifera Major

Apis Mellifera Meda

Apis Mellifera Mellifera

Apis Mellifera Monticola

Apis Mellifera Remipes

Apis Mellifera Saharencis

Apis Mellifera Scutelata

Apis Mellifera Sicilana, Sicula

Apis Mellifera Syriaca

Apis Mellifera Unicolor

Non Mellifera Races

Hybrid or Synthetic Bee Types

"A-Z" INDEX & SEARCH

The Racial Types of Honeybees

For Convenience I have used the same names and classifications as are used in Eva Crane's book "Bees and Beekeeping".

The information on the sub pages has been gathered from many sources and notes. Where precise references can be quoted they are given, much of the information is anecdotal and may actually come from hybridised bees that were thought by the owner to be of a particular race. This is not a scientific study, but is a collection of useful information that can be used for guidance and should not be relied upon as absolute fact.

The information on the minor mellifera races, and the non mellifera races, may take some time to gather as I have no personal experience of them.

Each page deals with a particular race and contains (or will contain) morphometric data and any other characteristics, observations and anecdotes.

There is a possibility that, in future, some races may be split or new types defined. I will try to keep this data abreast of any such changes.

Particular hybrids or synthesised bee types can be found under "Hybrid or synthetic Bee Types". However, types with a known history will be sub pages from the racial type from which they were formed... ie, New World Carniolan will be found on the "Apis Mellifera Carnica" page.

There about 20,000 species of bees that we have so far discovered, I suspect there are many more! Bees fall into the order Hymenoptera there are two families Apidć with long tongues and Andrenidć that are short tongued. There are three social types... Bombus (Bumble bees), Melipona (Stingless Bees) and the third genus, our beloved honey bee Apis.

Apis is my main interest... and the Apis Mellifera race is the most interesting... It is the race of bees that are most used by beekeepers.

Revised... 14 Nov 2001, 13 Feb 2002, Repositioned... 29 April 2002