' _ . BEEKEEPING IN KANSAS. 



[Dr: J. H. Merrill, assistant professor of entomology at Kansas State Agricultural Col- 

 lege, Manhattan, >vho is also state apiarist, has prepared the following papers, which are of 

 much interest to those who keep bees,] 



RACES OF BEES IN KANSAS. 



There are several races of bees found in Kansas. They are principally the 

 Black or German bees, Caucasians, Carniolans, Italians, 'Goldens, and last 

 but not least, the hybrids. Each one of these different races has individual 

 characteristics, some good and some bad. With some of the races the bad 

 points overbalance the good, thus making that race unsuitable for honey 

 production' in our state. 



The Black (or German) bee has probably been in this country longer than 

 any of the other races. It is commonly spoken of as the native bee, although 

 this is not true, as honeybees are not natives of this country. Tliey were 

 introduced into New England in 1638, and on account of their long stay 

 here have jjome to be known as native bees. In spite of having been here- 

 of or so long, they are not particularly well adapted to this country. They are 

 less prolific than the Italian bees, are very cross, build a great many queen 

 cells, and therefore swarm often. They are not very good at cleaning their 

 hives or re"Bisting moths. " They are not resistant to European foul brood, 

 which is one of the worst brood diseases of bees. They are very excitable,, 

 and run wildly about on the combs when the hive is opened. This, together 

 with the fact that the queen is not marked differently from the workers, 

 makes it very diflncult to locate her on the frame. Their good points, how- 

 ever, are that they cap their honey white, making a very fine-looking product, 

 and are said to stand the winter well. The fact that they have been here 

 since 1638 would seem to bear out. this point. 



The Caucasian bee varies in color, but closely resembles the black bee. 

 It is said that some of them show yellow bands on the abdomen somewhat 

 similar to the Italians, but most of them are dark gray with a metallic blu*- 

 cast in the drones. This race of bees has a great many good points, t'' 

 have not been in this country very long and have-not been tested ' 

 oughly as, the black bees. They were introduced into New York 

 1880. They are the gentlest race of bees known. They f 

 white, are good workers, defend their hives weir against -r^' 

 and, generally speaking, are very desirable bees. Th' 

 race of bees is that they use an abundance of prc- 

 times almost closing entire entrances. In adf)' 

 lizing the hive,' they use burr and brace en- 

 semble the black bees in color, it is vf 

 mated, and hybrids from this rate 

 great many beekeepers are lovr' 

 it may come to find a more t- .. 



The Carniolans, like +' 

 also, they have not ' 

 valuable they ar' 

 appear to ha' 

 color is p 



