Beekeeping in Wisconsin 11 



The Different Types of Bees 



Honey bees are not natives of America. They probably 

 were first brought over by the Spaniards, as "common bees" 

 and were first reported in Florida in 1763. Making their 

 homes in hollow trees, they moved north and westward 

 gradually, but in advance of settlers. The Indians called 

 them the "White man's fly." They became distributed 

 over the United States east of the Mississippi River by the 

 time of the first known importation of bees from England, 

 Germany and Italy. 



Soon after the close of the Civil War, Italian bees from 

 northern Italy began to be imported. The first successful 

 importation was made in 1868 by Adam Grimm of Jefferson, 

 Wisconsin. As beekeeping developed, the common black 

 angry bees became more or less mixed with the yellow gentle 

 Italian bees. Even today in the different states there are 

 few localities having "pure" common, black German bees; 

 they are mostly hybrids or crosses of blacks and Italians, the 

 amount of Italian blood depending largely upon the atten- 

 tion given to his bees by the individual beekeeper. 



Carniolan and Caucasian bees are the only later imported 

 races of bees that possess enough desirable characteristics to 

 be of practical interest. The black bees are a trifle smaller 

 than the Itahan or Carniolan bees, but are hardy, and if a 

 plentiful supply of good food is present will withstand well 

 the cold winters and climatic changes. They are easily 

 angered, will sting upon the slightest disturbance and are 

 non-resistant to the wax moth and European foul-brood dis- 

 ease. The queens are quite prolific and noted for brood 

 rearing. 



Italian Bees Best Honey Gatherers 



I 



The Itahan bees have three or more yellow bands on the 

 abdomen, are often slightly larger than the black bees, but 

 as a rule are not quite as hardy. As a race they are more 

 gentle, are strongly resistant to the wax moth, and much 

 less hable to European foul brood. Their queens are very 

 prolific. 



