My nuc was being robbed out by feral bees that were almost completely black - only a few small yellow strips on belly, but top of body completely black. The first few I saw outside my other hives I dismissed as black wasps, but upon examining them closely they have body of honeybees. There were many of them robbing out my nuc - definitely social group. I can’t find anything on the web that looks like these bees - they are much more black than German Black, Buckfast - maybe British/European black bee?
I live in Cali and I know we get commercial beekeepers who bring bees into my area for almond pollination. What types of totally black honeybees are there?
Robbers are often wet from honey or wax and often have their hair pulled out so they are often black and shiny. If they didn't have their hair pulled out they would be lighter in color.
I’ve seen honey covered wet bees before- this is not it. My only other explanation is that my OA fogger burned all the yellow hair off these bees. But then again they would have been found in my hives not from the feral hives. Bees from my hives range in color but none were totally black.
Just old bees (worn out and "bold").
What type is less relevant.
This time a year the old forager bees specialize in robbing (the specialty, in turn, makes them even bolder and darker).
Just yesterday I had to plug a nuc - all of a sudden it had lots of "black bees" flying (and the YJs standing by in the wings all around)...
A bad sign.
Screen/plug the nuc asap.
Just old bees (worn out and "bold").
What type is less relevant.
This time a year the old forager bees specialize in robbing (the specialty, in turn, makes them even bolder and darker).
That's my experience too - often see them causing trouble. Just as the young nurse bees are timid and unsure of themselves - those oldsters are exactly the opposite. "Bold" is exactly the right description.
LJ
Thanks for the input. After further observations and research I do believe they are older veteran foragers who has lost all of their yellow fuzz from fighting. They’re extremely aggressive and “bold”.
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