Rank Subspecies | Genus Apis | |
Similar Apis mellifera unicolor, Apis mellifera intermissa, Apis mellifera macedonica, Apis mellifera cecropia, Apis mellifera iberiensis | ||
Lamarck's honey bee or the Egyptian honey bee, Apis mellifera lamarckii, is a subspecies of honey bee native to the Nile valley of Egypt and Sudan, named after Jean-Baptiste Lamarck.
Description
It is a dark honey bee with yellow abdomen, and is a small subspecies like the races South of the Sahara. The Lamarck's mitotype can also be identified in honey bees from California and in feral bees from Florida.
A unique trait of the pure Lamarckii is that it does not collect propolis. Lamarckii does not form winter clusters and therefore the pure strain cannot overwinter in areas that experience freezing temperatures.
It is considered defensive, low in honey yield, and exhibiting good hygienic behavior.
References
Apis mellifera lamarckii Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA