Honey Bee Identification

[Stlnifr]

I have been back to two of the three bee trees in the river swamp. At one tree the bees were mostly brown some with yellow bans and some with none. The other tree the bees were shiny jet black with two pencil thin light yellow bans. These two trees are about 10 miles apart if not more.

Question any idea what race of bees these could be, I am assuming mutts but would like an idea of what they may be mixed with.

[AllenF]

Mutts.   Apis mellifera muttus   var.  south carolinus on the dark ones. 

[Stlnifr]

I like that sounds good to me. Maybe Apis mellifera carolinus for the black bee.

[AllenF]

Mutts from North Carolina tend to be a little lighter in color and a little more hairy.  Apis mellifera muttus   var.  north carolinus