Types of bees: photo with name and description, Himalayan, leaf cutter, Bashkir, Caucasian

Before you start creating an apiary, you need to study the types of bees. This helps you choose the best option for yourself, taking into account the behavioral characteristics of each type of insect. The classification of Hymenoptera allows one to predict the profitability of an apiary.

Variety of bee species

The classification of bees includes two large groups - domesticated and wild insects. Wild bees live in natural conditions. Domestic bees are bred to obtain bee products for their further sale. There are about 2000 species of bees. They are divided into 4 large groups:

melliferous;
giant;
dwarf;
Indian.

When choosing a bee breed for breeding, their predisposition to swarming, habitat and productivity are taken into account. The most common species of Hymenoptera include:

gray Caucasian;
Central Russian;
buckfast;
Carpathian;
karnika.

Advice! Before choosing a breed, you should take the time to study each variety, weighing the pros and cons.

Types and breeds of bees with photos and descriptions

Each species of Hymenoptera requires special conditions for breeding. The stamina, performance and productivity of bees depends on belonging to a particular species. Some breeds are overly aggressive, others do not pose any danger to humans. External distinctive features also depend on the type of bee. Photos with the names of insect breeds are posted below.

Himalayan

Himalayan Hymenoptera are distinguished by their bright yellow-black coloration. They live in mountainous areas. The advantages of insects include their peaceful nature and resistance to mites. The harvest is carried out by the local people of Nepal - the Gurungs. This process is called extreme beekeeping. Over time, it becomes less common due to insufficient security.

Honey from Himalayan bees has hallucinogenic properties. This is due to the fact that many rhododendrons grow in the mountainous areas. Andromedotoxin, which is released by the plant during flowering, is considered a powerful poison. When it enters the human body in small quantities, it provokes hallucinations. This honey is collected in the spring. The autumn harvest contains a lot of useful substances, but does not cause hallucinations. Its beneficial properties include:

strengthening the immune system;
restoration of blood pressure;
normalization of blood glucose levels;
increase in potency.

Leaf Cutter Bee

In terms of body type and color, the leafcutter bee is considered a close relative of the wasp. Body length ranges from 8 to 16 mm. A distinctive feature of the insect is the presence of a powerful jaw, with the help of which the individual cuts off pieces of leaves. Despite this, leaf cutters are not considered predators. It feeds on flower nectar.

The leafcutter bee, the photo of which is presented below, is found in latitudes with a temperate climate. It has a short life cycle, during which it manages to pollinate only about 25 plants. The insect is not a pest. But it can ruin the appearance of ornamental plants. Fighting the leafcutter bee is not recommended. If wild individuals have built a nest near a private garden or vegetable garden, you can simply move it to a safer distance.

Bashkir bee

The Bashkir or Burzyan variety is widespread in European countries. Its body is distinguished by a grayish tint without pronounced yellow stripes. The insect is very sensitive to climatic conditions, so it does not fly out of the hive in hot or cold weather. Under favorable conditions, a working individual can work for 17 hours. Among the advantages of the variety, wintering is distinguished by a strong family. The disadvantages of this breed include:

aggressiveness;
the difficulty of replacing the uterus with a new one;
tendency to swarm.

Caucasian breed of bees

The Caucasian bee tops the list of the most popular breeds. It lives mainly in mountainous areas. The advantages of this type of insect include an easy-going nature and hard work, and a low tendency to swarm.Only 7% of families have a swarm instinct.

The main advantage is the high productivity of insects. The result is high quality honey. Bees of this breed have a hard time surviving winter and have weak immunity. A photo of a Caucasian bee is posted below.

Gray mountain Caucasian bee

Because of its unique color, the Caucasian bee is called the gray bee. Her body is completely devoid of yellow stripes. This bee is divided into several subspecies:

Abkhazian;
valley;
Kakhetian;
Imeretian;
Mingrelian

This species of Hymenoptera does not tolerate transportation to places with an unsuitable climate. In winter, the probability of death of a Caucasian woman increases. In terms of productivity, the variety is not inferior to the Central Russian breed. She is not at all aggressive, but will easily defend the interests of her family when threatened with attack.

Italian

Italian individuals began their distribution from the Apennine Peninsula. In nature, gray, golden and three-striped representatives of the species are found. In beekeeping, the breeding of golden subspecies is most often practiced. Their body is larger than that of Central Russian bees. The length of the trunk is 6.4-6.7 mm. Insects are distinguished by their peaceful nature, despite which they effectively protect hives from uninvited guests. Representatives of the breed have a pronounced tendency to steal honey.

In the harsh Russian climate, it is difficult for the Italian breed of bees to winter. Therefore, in winter the family needs special care. In this case, bulk feed supplies will be required. The most common diseases of the Italian bee include acarapidosis and nosematosis. The tendency to swarm in this species is average. Transportation has a negative impact on insects.

Asian bees

In Asian countries, a special population of honey bees has been bred. They differ significantly from the Hymenoptera common in Europe. There are more than 9,000 species of Asian bees. A prominent representative is the giant Apis dorsata laboriosa. It is distinguished by its large size and dark belly, on which white stripes adorn. They also have an additional pair of eyes located between the main ones. The breed builds its hives on steep cliffs. Features of Asian individuals include a painful bite.

Ukrainian steppe bee

Representatives of the Ukrainian steppe breed are resistant to sudden temperature changes, due to which they tolerate wintering well. They are distinguished by their cleanliness. There are never any wax crumbs or debris in the hive of such bees. The bee family is at the peak of its strength throughout its entire life cycle, regardless of external conditions. The risk of developing ascopherosis, nosematosis and brood diseases is minimal. The main advantages of the Ukrainian steppe bee include:

excellent uterine fertility;
low susceptibility to swarming;
frost resistance;
resistance to diseases.

The disadvantages of the breed include selective pollination. Bees prefer plants with high sugar content. About 10% of bee families are prone to swarming.

Important! In bad weather, the Ukrainian steppe bee prefers to sit in the hive.

Don bee

The Don breed is distinguished by its high productivity and fertility. Her body is covered with brown stripes. During the reproductive period, the queen is capable of laying about 3,000 eggs per day. The family is considered prone to active swarming. Most often, working individuals collect nectar from yellow sweet clover, acacia and oregano.

Thai bees

Thai bees have a distinctive appearance. The abdomen is dark in color and has no stripes. Compared to other types of bees, the wings of representatives of the Thai breed are darker. The insect has a calm disposition and high performance. Beekeeping products have a soft and delicate taste.

Abkhazian bee

The Abkhaz woman is common in the mountainous areas of the Caucasus. Due to the location of the hives on the slopes of steep cliffs, it is called the stone bee. She is considered the least problematic to breed. A distinctive feature of the breed is its long trunk. Due to the unique properties of bee honey, this species began to be cultivated in Western Europe and the USA. The productivity of workers is determined by their early departure from the hive.

Melipona bees

Melipons have an interesting feature - the complete absence of a sting. Odorous liquids perform a protective function. Also, at the moment of danger, the bee bites the attacker with its mandibles. Unlike other species of Hymenoptera, Meliponas do not have a clear division of labor in the family. It is not customary for them to take care of the growing brood. The dwellings of melipons look more like bumblebee nests.

The most delicious honey is produced by Meliponas, who live on the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. If previously they were widespread, recently the number of this species has decreased significantly.

Altai

The Altai bee variety, photos of which are shown below, is considered very rare. Honey produced in Altai is very popular due to its valuable properties. The practice of experienced beekeepers shows that the breed uses feed reserves extremely carefully and is highly productive.Altai Hymenoptera are vicious, but rarely become infected with nosematosis.

Siberian bee

The most frost-resistant bees live in Siberia. They are valued for their high productivity and resistance to various diseases. They are distinguished by their large size and strong immunity. The Siberian bee is considered to be vicious, but prolific. Breeders plan to use this species to develop a new breed that would be able to produce beekeeping products throughout the year.

Comment! The average length of the trunk of a Siberian individual is 6 mm.

Priokskaya breed of bees

The Priokskaya bee is a relative of the representatives of the gray mountain Caucasian insect species. It is gray in color with characteristic yellow stripes. The length of the proboscis is 6-7 mm. Peak egg laying occurs in the first half of June. The positive features of these bees include:

the brood is 15% higher than that of the average family;
increased resistance of the breed to nosematosis;
minimal tendency to swarm;
early development in spring.

The disadvantage of the breed is its attachment to a particular area. Representatives of this species successfully exist in the Ryazan and Tula regions. Breeding in other regions negatively affects their productivity.

Japanese bees

The Japanese bee resembles a hornet in appearance. A distinctive feature of the insect is its impressive size. The body length reaches 4 cm, and the wingspan is 6 cm. Giant hornets look terrifying. Their bite is fatal and is considered very painful.

The chest and abdomen of the insect are bright orange. The back of the body is lined with brown stripes.The home of a representative of this breed resembles a wasp's nest. Hornets feed their larvae exclusively with meat. Japanese bees are not used for breeding. Moreover, they pose a threat to the working bee hive.

Mason bee

The mason got its name from the use of small grains of sand and stones in the construction of her home. Externally, such an individual differs from other hymenoptera in its blue-green abdomen with a metallic tint. The mason plant is considered a prolific pollinator. She flies out of the hive in search of nectar even in inclement weather.

Far Eastern

The Far Eastern breed is common in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories. The color of the breed varies from gray to gray-yellow shades. The length of the trunk is 6.5 mm. This species is considered friendly and productive. Representatives of this breed prefer to collect nectar from linden trees.

The advantages of individuals of this type include easy wintering tolerance and resistance to diseases. The main disadvantages are:

long-term cell construction;
high tendency to swarm;
insufficient wax performance.

Attention! A quiet change of queens is not typical for Far Eastern bees.

American

The American variety is considered a hybrid that spread to Africa and then to Brazil. It is distinguished by high endurance and aggressiveness. Due to the frequent occurrence of swarm attacks on animals, they are nicknamed killer bees. The breed produces 2 times more honey than other types of bees.

Dwarf bees

The dwarf breed is one of the smallest varieties of bees. Its body length is 2 mm. Dwarf insects pollinate mainly flowers.Unlike representatives of other breeds, the dwarf bee works alone. The breed builds its nest in sandy soil. This species is practically not used in beekeeping.

Wool bee

The woolbite is considered a large individual. The length of her body is 13 mm. There is a black spot on the back of the head, and a yellow spot on the front. A unique feature of the view is its unusual approach to housing construction. The breed uses various reeds, shells, etc. as material to build a nest. The woolbite builds honeycombs from plant fluff.

German breed of bees

German bees are also called black bees. They are distinguished by the presence of a thick layer of yellow fluff. The advantages of the breed include a calm disposition and strong immunity. Working individuals are tolerant of low temperatures, but cannot tolerate smoke. But in beekeeping they are used extremely rarely due to their susceptibility to foulbrood and high aggressiveness.

cuckoo bee

The cuckoo bee lives in Australia and southeast Asia. It is distinguished by a specific black and blue color. They are not used in beekeeping because the breed is slow and inefficient. Insects of this species do not build their own nests. They throw larvae into the nests of representatives of the Amegilla breed.

Giant bee

Giant insects live in the wild. They build their hives in trees or rock crevices. The body of an adult individual reaches 16-18 mm in length. The color of the insect is yellowish. It is extremely difficult to domesticate such a species, since it reacts aggressively to any interference in its work. It is advisable to avoid meeting such an individual for safety reasons.

The most dangerous bees

Some species of Hymenoptera pose a mortal danger to humans.This is due to the high toxicity of their poison. In addition, some breeds are capable of stinging without reason, several times. The best protection is to avoid places where they gather. The most dangerous types include:

Africanized killer bee;
tiger bee.

How to determine the breed of bees

Externally, all bee breeds are similar to each other. But an experienced beekeeper can easily distinguish one species from another. The following parameters are used as a guide:

average size of an individual;
climatic living conditions;
color;
degree of productivity;
tendency to swarm;
aggressiveness.

First of all, pay attention to the appearance of the Hymenoptera. The structure of the pattern and color differ in each case. In some breeds, a characteristic feature is the color of the wings and the size of the body. Insect behavior is considered an indirect classification criterion.

Comment! On the territory of Russia you can find the Far Eastern, Yellow Caucasian, Central Russian, Carpathian, Ukrainian and Italian breeds.

How to distinguish what breed of queen bee

The queen bee is the leader of the bee family. She is responsible for reproductive functions. Its distinctive feature is its large body size and low mobility. The queen flies out of the hive only for the purpose of mating with drones or during the swarming period. Each breed of Hymenoptera has a different uterus. Its color will be the same as that of other individuals of the family.

How to choose a breed

When choosing a breed for breeding, there are several factors to consider. The quantity and quality of the harvest depends on the correct choice. Experts recommend paying attention to the following criteria:

performance level;
volumes of processed wax;
immune protection;
resistance to climatic conditions;
character of bees.

First of all, beekeepers try to evaluate the productivity and resistance of Hymenoptera to diseases. Based on these data, the principle of family care will be selected. Their character is also important. The degree of difficulty of performing work in the apiary depends on their aggressiveness. In some cases, they turn a blind eye to aggressiveness if the variety is highly efficient.

How to change the breed of bees in an apiary

The process of replacing breeds in an apiary is not accompanied by any particular difficulties. Since the uterus is responsible for the offspring, only replacing it will be enough. By mating with local drones, she will reproduce a cross between the two breeds. But to reproduce the next generation of drones, the DNA of local representatives of Hymenoptera will not be required, since drones emerge from unfertilized larvae. Therefore, a complete change of breed will occur approximately 40 days after the new queen is introduced. The first representatives of the new species will appear in the hive within 20 days.

In the first year of active breeding, new queens will be hatched, which can be transferred to other hives. When replanting, it should be taken into account that by autumn there should be new queens in the bee home. The old breed influences the new breed exclusively in a positive way. The gradual change from one species to another accelerates the family’s adaptability to new conditions. Correctly changing the breed will help reduce the cost of caring for the bee colony and increase its productivity.

Conclusion

The types of bees need to be studied if you plan to select the most suitable breed for breeding. The profitability of the apiary depends on the correct choice.Incorrect selection leads to the inevitable death of the bee family.

Bee breeds