j.94 Beekeeping 



tree ; there is no distinction between drone and worker cells 

 and these bees do not take kindly to confinement in a hive. 1 



VARIETIES OF THE SPECIES MELLIFICA 



In the classification of insects, differences in structure 

 and color are the characters on which classification is usually 

 made, but in the differentiation of the varieties of honeybees 

 there are no constant differences in these characters to guide 

 the student. The varietips are established by beekeepers 

 because of recognized and well-marked differences in the 

 behavior of the bees from various regions. They are, how- 

 ever, valid biological varieties. While there are color dif- 

 ferences, these are of little value in attempting a classifica- 

 tion. Since beekeepers usually refer to these divisions of the 

 species as races, this term is here adopted. Roughly the 

 races are divided into three groups, (1) the eastern races, 

 (2) the European races and (3) the African races. Certain 

 characteristics of these groups are valid but the grouping is 

 somewhat artificial. The principal races are here discussed 

 in the order suggested by this grouping, the names given the 

 races being indicative of their origin. 2 



Egyptian. 



These bees are somewhat smaller than the races best 

 known to American beekeepers, the abdomen is slender and 



1 For further data concerning the various species of the genus Apis, 

 consult the above mentioned papers by v. Buttel-Reepen as well as the 

 following : 



Gerstacker, 1862. Ueber die geographische Verbreitung und die Abande- 

 rungen der Honigbiene nebst Bemerkungen iiber die auslandischen Honig- 

 bienen der alten Welt. Reprinted in v. Buttel-Reepen's Apistica. Partial 

 English translation by Dallas, Ann. and mag. of nat. history, 1863, III 

 series, vol. 11. 



Koshewnikov, G. A., 1900-1905 [Material for the study of the genus 

 Apis] Russian. 



Additional references are given in the v. Buttel-Reepen papers. 



2 None of the races of the honeybee is native to America. The German 

 bees were introduced early in the history of the country and are often 

 designated native bees, but this is an error. After their introduction they 



