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Author Topic: Black bee ID  (Read 6660 times)

Offline wd

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Black bee ID
« on: May 03, 2010, 06:29:02 pm »


Wondering if anyone might be able to identify this bee?













Offline fermentedhiker

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2010, 10:33:53 pm »
can you get a head shot?  Maybe a good view of the mouth parts?
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Offline AllenF

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2010, 11:09:07 pm »
I don't know much about the west coast, but if I saw that around here, I would think what is that crazy drone honey bee doing.

Offline wd

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2010, 04:00:21 am »
mouth parts and a drone? ... gotcha









« Last Edit: May 04, 2010, 04:54:36 am by wd »

Offline RayMarler

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2010, 06:08:16 am »
No way is that a drone honeybee. Drones have fuzzy rounded butts with wings that extend to the butt.
Looks more like a virgin queen to me. Looks rather dead at that.

Offline Scadsobees

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2010, 08:38:55 am »
I bet if you spent about 30 minutes on www.bugguide.net you'd find it!

Not a drone, not a queen.  There are flies that mimic bees closely, but this one has double wings and the legs are angular like a bee to hold pollen.  Could be a black type honeybee that is older and lost some hair, but I'd say it is more likely to be some type of solitary bee.
Rick

Offline wd

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2010, 01:58:16 pm »
Thanks to all for the comments. I guess in a way, the question is kind of like looking for a needle in a hay stack. didn't look like a drone to me .. I thought perhaps a Caucasian bee but I'm not sure. a queen crossed my mind but why does it appear to be collecting pollen? .. a solitary bee never registered. Thank you for the link, I'll take a look  

I'll will try to get some better shots of this black bee, in the mean time, this is what I have



some other visitors



as described above, drones as I know them




Offline Irwin

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2010, 04:27:57 pm »
Grab it and see if will sting you that mite help narrow down your hunt.  :-D
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Offline wd

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2010, 04:58:29 pm »
On second thought, I think I ought let this question go. I'll try and find out another way.
« Last Edit: May 04, 2010, 07:06:40 pm by wd »

Offline Scadsobees

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2010, 11:53:19 pm »
Yes, it could be a Carniolan or perhaps Russian, there are several black type bees.
Rick

Offline wd

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2010, 06:01:26 pm »
Yes, it could be a Carniolan or perhaps Russian, there are several black type bees.
... yessirooni ...

adding a few more pictures, nothing more.






Offline fermentedhiker

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #11 on: May 08, 2010, 08:55:53 pm »
another good site for insect identification

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/
Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
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Offline Scadsobees

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #12 on: May 08, 2010, 09:48:35 pm »
Yeah, those new pics show it is definitely a honey bee of some sort.

Aside from pictures, I think the only way to figure out what type of black bee, carniolan, russian, german, is through hive behavior and characteristics.  Temperament, swarming, propolis gathering, buildup, etc.
Rick

Offline wd

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Re: Black bee ID
« Reply #13 on: May 09, 2010, 01:28:41 am »
« Last Edit: May 10, 2010, 06:07:19 am by wd »

 

anything