Honey-production
Guides
Apis mellifera ligustica
Italian honey bee, Ligurian honey bee
Apis mellifera ligustica, the Italian honey bee, is a subspecies of the western honey bee native to the Italian Peninsula. It was introduced to the United States in 1859 and has become the most common subspecies used in American commercial beekeeping. The subspecies is characterized by its yellow coloration, gentle temperament, and strong brood rearing capacity. It is widely utilized for honey production and crop pollination, though it shows less resistance to Varroa mites compared to some other honey bee stocks.
Brachygastra
Honey Wasps, Mexican Honey Wasps
Brachygastra is a genus of 17 species of social paper wasps in the family Vespidae, commonly known as honey wasps. The genus is notable for being one of the few non-bee insects that produce and store honey in substantial quantities. Species are distributed throughout Central and South America, with one species (B. mellifica) extending into the southwestern United States. The genus exhibits pronounced morphological caste differentiation, with queens typically larger than workers. Nests are arboreal, constructed from chewed plant fibers, and can persist for multiple years in tropical climates.