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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees » Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees (Apidae) » Honey, Bumble, Longhorn, Orchid, and Digger Bees (Apinae) » Honey Bees (Apini) » Honey Bees (Apis) » Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Photo#95991
Battered Ol' Bee - Apis mellifera - female
Copyright © 2007 Ron Hemberger

Battered Ol' Bee - Apis mellifera - Female
Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton, Orange County, California, USA
February 20, 2007
Size: Plus-size honeybee
Looked like a syrphid from a distance. Very slow to move; looked as if it had traveled far.

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Battered Ol' Bee - Apis mellifera - female Battered Ol' Bee - Apis mellifera
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Contributed by Ron Hemberger on 20 February, 2007 - 8:15pm
Last updated 19 April, 2014 - 7:22am

Moved
Moved from Carniolan Honeybee.
… John S. Ascher, 19 April, 2014 - 7:22am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Honey Bee.
… Chuck Entz, 9 June, 2007 - 7:02pm login or register to post comments

 
Glad you looked into this
:-)
… Ron Hemberger, 9 June, 2007 - 7:19pm login or register to post comments

So-called "winter" Honyebees
Live longer than their summer fellows because they overwinter in the hive until first flowers are available. This one worker seems different not only because of its late age, but by having no brownish yellow at the basis of its abdomen: the exception rather than the rule in most parts of North America, where variety ligustica dominates.
The large size you mention suggests this old-timer belongs (or at least has most of its genes from) variety carniolica. Although they can fly to forage far enough, they go seldom further than a five miles radius from their hive, either "wild" or owned by a bee-keeper.
Hairy compound eyes and wing venation are quite peculiar to Apis, and are unmistakable hallmarks.
… Richard Vernier, 21 February, 2007 - 6:08am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks, Richard
...for your detailed and informative answer. There are lots of bees - several kinds - at the Arboretum, but this is the first of its kind for me. Usually, I don't pay a lot of attention to honeybees, particularly at this time of year.
… Ron Hemberger, 21 February, 2007 - 10:22am login or register to post comments

 
...disregard
...
… Ron Hemberger, 21 March, 2007 - 10:41am login or register to post comments

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