Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758

Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 View in CoL

Western Honey Bee

Notes: This exotic, managed species is widespread and abundant in Connecticut. CAES has had an important role in beekeeping in Connecticut since the early 1900s. Apiary inspections for European foulbrood and American foulbrood have been required by state legislation and conducted by the staff of CAES, under the supervision of the State Entomologist since 1910. Additionally, beekeepers have been required to register with their towns since 1919 (Stafford et al. unpublished). Apiary inspection for pests, parasites, and pathogens of honey bees and registration of hives continue to the present (https://portal.ct.gov/CAES/Bee-Information/Bee-Information/Laws-Pertainingto-Honey-Bees-in-Connecticut). An early educational publication on beekeeping for Connecticut described the Langstroth hive and other beekeeping equipment as well as the diseases of bees and the apiary inspection program and indicated that several different races within the species were already present within the state (Yates 1918). More recent research on A. mellifera at CAES has included genetic analysis of genotypes of Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood disease (Dingman 2015), and the analysis of pesticide residues in dead honey bees and brood comb (Anderson & Wojtas 1986), or in pollen collected by honey bees (Stoner & Eitzer 2013, Stoner et al. 2019).