Black bees

[tycrnp]

I've seen a few threads on here about black bees. It can be anything from a German bee, to a mutt, to a robber from what I've read.  Can anyone identify this one? I found a few in one of my hives today.

[rast]

Usually an old bee.

[The15thMember]

Black bees like this are hairless for some reason.  Sometimes it's because they are old, sometimes because they are sick, and I seem to remember it being mentioned before the rare possibility of bees just developing without hair.  As to which this bee is, it's difficult to say.  The state of the rest of the colony would give you a clue.  If the colony is healthy and there aren't many bees like this, I don't think it's anything to worry about.   

[Ben Framed]

From what I learned here when a black bee is shiny is ok. If a dull waxie color possibly unhealthy.

[tycrnp]

It's a large healthy colony.  I've added 2 supers in 8 days.

[Ben Framed]

tycrnp I see them from time to time in my hives also.

[Bob Wilson]

I see them every once in a while, but the colonies are healthy, and doing fine.

[TheHoneyPump]

I see such only in the late summer and fall when my neighbours hives are crashing and their sickly bees are finding their way over to mine to beg into. I do not like ever seeing them, and neither should you. Pick them out, pinch them, and toss them aside soon as you see them to prevent spread of viral infections in your colonies. Clean-sterile your hands and your tools after encountering them.

[Bob Wilson]

HP. I can do that, but if it is a virus, what virus is it? I only see one every once in a while.

[beesnweeds]

Yup !!! What The Honey Pump said.  Black hairless bees are a symptom of chronic bee paralysis virus. (CPV)

[Ben Framed]

I am posting the following form 2005. I do not know much about (CPV), How long its been around, or the symptoms. The following is posted for interest sake showing black bees have been reported here as far back as 2005, maybe even further back. I did not search for readings further back than this one below concerning the black bee.

Just wondering if anyone could explain what happened.  I'm a first year BeeKeeper in Canada and started with 2 hives of Cornolia's.  One of the hives has been really strong right form the get go, but the other one has been struggling all summer.  As i was getting ready to start feeding them for winter last week, I took 2 brood frames from the really strong hive (had 3 deeps of brood) and placed in the weaker one hoping that it would help.  As I was rearranging the weak hive, I found 2 superceeding queen cells and 2 swarming queen cells all were already empty and could not locate the origonal queen.  After placing the lid back on the hives and placing my feed containers on the tops of the hives. I noticed that there were numerous black bees (not my cornolia's) gathering on the weaker hive and taking any dripped syrup as well as fighting with the bees on the outside of the super and entrance.  Now less than a weak later, my weak hive is completely dead, there thousands of dead cornolia's and black bees everywhere including inside the hive, the frames have all been robbed and the foundations are being demolished.  I realize that its too late and there is probably nothing I can do now, but is it normal for other strains off bees to raid and kill off entire hives just like that, in less than a week and any ideas on how to prevent that in the future???  Any info or help would be more than appreciated, "Thanks" in advance...  BTW this site and all the info people place on it is great!!!

[Ben Framed]

Adding, he never received a reply.

[tycrnp]

Wow!!! I will remove any I find in the future. Thanks!!

[Ben Framed]

You are welcome. I found this while looking for more information of the black bee here. I am no expert. I thought you might find the post interesting. HoneyPumps response, in my opinion, should be taken. I am saying this after once again, looking at you picture blown up for more clarity. You bee looks waxie to me.





                                                                                                                                                                                .

[TheHoneyPump]

HP. I can do that, but if it is a virus, what virus is it? I only see one every once in a while.

The number of types that are out there grows each time a lab tests for something different. There is a very wide gap in the knowledge base of the beekeeping community with respect to just how many and how prevalent honey bee virus` really are. The basic level of awareness across the community is very low.  There is a huge opportunity for improvement in this area. Anyone reading this, please take it as your queue to seek out information and educate yourself and your fellow beekeepers on the subject. Casually ask about virus` in your bee-circles.  Watch for how many blank stares there are. This stuff is not new. Knowledge of honeybee virus` is 50-60 years in the making.  As lab technology advances, so does the knowledge of the details of virus`

As a basic starting point to begin your journey, here is just one of many links that can popup on a google search:
https://bee-health.extension.org/honey-bee-viruses-the-deadly-varroa-mite-associates/

The most common type I encounter around here is Kashmir (KBV) and its variant xxPV cousins .

[Ben Framed]

This was an interesting and informative topic. I am renewing it for the sake of our newer beekeepers who might be interested.

Phillip

[Michael Bush]

It's often because they are robbers.  It's also often because of a virus.  Huber writes about these in "Huber's new observations on bees" vol II.

[paus]

In 1958 when i was discharged from the US army I had one hive left out of 23 when I was drafted.  That hive was my best honey maker they were MEAN and they were the only hive that survived my two year absence.  The old timers called them native bees but that folklore has been proved wrong.  I have a wild hive in a big oak they are almost as black as the bees in my first hives iI got in 1948

[Ben Framed]

Paus were your bees of the 1950's; or the ones in the tree, slick or 'hairless' as the one in the picture?  My uncle had an experience with mean black bees many years ago. Those bees were 'healthy' black in color bees, (with hair), (fuzz), or whatever it is which covers bees, giving them their color. And by the way they were also mean! lol

Phillip

[paus]

{ dont't remember any details of the bees except that was my only hive of black bees the rest of my 23 were Italian as the man who almost gave them to me had requeened all of the other hives.  Some of them I never put on any protective gear.