Honey-bee
Guides
Apis mellifera carnica
Carniolan honey bee, Carniolan bee
Apis mellifera carnica is a subspecies of the western honey bee native to Slovenia, southern Austria, and parts of the Balkans. It is distinguished by darker coloration than the Italian honey bee and is valued in beekeeping for its gentle temperament and rapid spring colony buildup. The subspecies has been the focus of intensive breeding programs, including the New World Carniolan line developed by Susan Cobey, now an industry standard. Research indicates A. m. carnica exhibits distinct genetic responses to thermal stress and shows potential resistance traits against Varroa destructor mites through grooming behavior. The subspecies is the subject of international conservation efforts, with Slovenia restricting beekeeping to Carniolan bees only.
Apis mellifera scutellata
African Honey Bee, East African Lowland Honey Bee, Africanized Honey Bee
Apis mellifera scutellata is a subspecies of the western honey bee native to central, southern, and eastern Africa. It is smaller and slightly darker than European honey bees, with a fuzzy thorax and black-striped abdomen. This subspecies is the primary ancestor of Africanized honey bees, which originated from escaped experimental colonies in Brazil in 1957 and subsequently spread throughout the Americas. A. m. scutellata exhibits heightened defensive behavior, rapid colony growth, and strong swarming tendencies compared to European subspecies.
Apocephalus
ant-decapitating flies, scuttle flies (informal)
Apocephalus is a genus of phorid flies comprising at least 300 described species, commonly known as ant-decapitating flies. Species within this genus are primarily parasitoids of ants, with females laying eggs in hosts that subsequently develop into larvae that consume the host from within, often resulting in host decapitation. The genus has gained particular attention due to Apocephalus borealis, which parasitizes honey bees and causes aberrant nocturnal behavior leading to hive abandonment. Several species groups have been taxonomically revised, including the mucronatus group and subgenus Mesophora, with numerous new species described in recent decades.
Braula coeca
bee louse, bee fly, braulid
Braula coeca is a tiny, wingless fly in the family Braulidae that lives as an ectoparasite or commensalist in colonies of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. Adults attach to adult bees and feed by stealing food from the host's mouth during trophallaxis. The species possesses highly specialized attachment structures adapted to grip the bee's hairy surface, with claw morphology featuring comb-like teeth that match bee hair diameter. Host selection is mediated by detection of mandibular gland pheromones, particularly queen substance and worker substance, allowing the louse to target bees with higher trophallactic activity.
Desmometopa varipalpis
freeloader fly
Desmometopa varipalpis is a species of freeloader fly in the family Milichiidae, described by Malloch in 1927. It is found in Europe and the Galápagos Islands. Like other members of its genus, it has been observed engaging in kleptoparasitism, feeding on prey captured by spiders and praying mantids.