Black Bees

[rawfind]

Hi guys,
           i picked up a nest of bees a week ago and i have noticed that they must be the blackest bees
ive ever seen, i have carniolian bees and these are even blacker than them, they are jet black, they are not
aggressive , any ideas as to the race ? re Neil

[Harpo]

The Midnight bee was developed by crossing the Caucasian and Carniolan stocks, hoping to maintain the extreme gentleness of both strains while removing the excessive propolis of the Caucasians and minimizing the swarming propensity of the Carniolans.

There are also some Black Italian hybrids according to Norman Redpath...

Think you could take a close up pic???

Sounds like you struck it lucky

[rawfind]

The Midnight bee was developed by crossing the Caucasian and Carniolan stocks, hoping to maintain the extreme gentleness of both strains while removing the excessive propolis of the Caucasians and minimizing the swarming propensity of the Carniolans.

There are also some Black Italian hybrids according to Norman Redpath...

Think you could take a close up pic???

Sounds like you struck it lucky

Ill try and get a close up pic over the next few days, never heard of the midnight bee before.

[bernsad]

never heard of the midnight bee before.

That's 'cause they only come out at night.

[100 TD]

Some black ones here
Carniolan honey bee, Apis mellifera carnica.
This particular strain is very dark. There is little variation among the worker bees, possibly indicating artificial insemination of the queen here with pure carniolan drone stock.
 www     farm4.staticflickr.com/3563/3764258142_e50d44f6f6.jpg

[rawfind]

The Midnight bee was developed by crossing the Caucasian and Carniolan stocks, hoping to maintain the extreme gentleness of both strains while removing the excessive propolis of the Caucasians and minimizing the swarming propensity of the Carniolans.

There are also some Black Italian hybrids according to Norman Redpath...

Think you could take a close up pic???

Sounds like you struck it lucky

Ill try and get a close up pic over the next few days, never heard of the midnight bee before.

Had to move that hive to a new site on the weekend as it was the only one i have that is a single all the rest are already 2 or more,
its much easier  to move one box in the boot than a double.

I caught a couple in a jar but my camera cant get the closeup detail, the abdomens are pure black along with the rest of the body.