Happy Tuesday: Honey Bees

This is a Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera). I average about one observation a season, which is fine with me. In fact, I see them so infrequently that I usually can't identify them. Last night, JF and I were texting about this bee and her bee observation from yesterday, that I now suspect is also a honey bee. Mine is feral; hers may be domestic.

Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

To be clear, Apis mellifera is now considered by many entomologists to be invasive. The primary problem with them is that they spread disease. and perhaps parasites, to our native bumble bees. We have been advised by bee experts in Vermont to use maple instead of honey for sweetening. Of course, being the nation's largest producer of maple, that is easy for me. I myself have gallons of maple syrup from my trees. Honey bees can also displace our native bumbles and give them overwhelming competition for food. Native bumbles do not produce honey in quantities for humans; they can also be used by commercial pollenating companies.

I was very happy to receive identification confirmation overnight at iNaturalist. Everyone is invited to contribute iNaturalist. It is the biggest community scientist project around, and it's for flora and fauna. There is a poorly developed app for your phone (the link is for iPhone and Android). There is also an app called Seek for people, like one of my daughters, are beginning naturalists. The Android version is here. To many of you gardeners; you are perfect candidates for contributing to science.

Have a marvelous week!

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