"A" Lineage (African)
Sublineage "AI" (Africa)
Sublineage "AII" (Northwest Africa and Iberia)
Sublineage "AIII" (Portugal/Iberia)
Sublineage "Z" (Northeast Africa/Middle East)
Malagasy sublineage?
Apis mellifera sahariensis (Saharan bee)
The Saharan bee range is Mauritania, Western Sahara Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya.
The Buckfast bee had a percentage of Saharan bee genetics mixed in, so we may have Saharan bee genetics here in America. I have seen in some of our colonies here in North Carolina with Saharan like traits. But since recombination from hybridization mixes the genes of different kinds of bees, it is hard to be certain what kind of bees they are by outward traits alone.
We have a Summer dearth here in North Carolina that starts about mid-May, which would probably favor the Saharan bee and other hot climate bees that go through a Summer dearth. Here are videos of our Saharan like bee colonies with light coloration and thin rings of hair. Although the trait of thin bands of hair could be from a mixing of German black bee genetics, and the light coloration from Persian bee genetics:
The Buckfast bee had a percentage of Saharan bee genetics mixed in, so we may have Saharan bee genetics here in America. I have seen in some of our colonies here in North Carolina with Saharan like traits. But since recombination from hybridization mixes the genes of different kinds of bees, it is hard to be certain what kind of bees they are by outward traits alone.
We have a Summer dearth here in North Carolina that starts about mid-May, which would probably favor the Saharan bee and other hot climate bees that go through a Summer dearth. Here are videos of our Saharan like bee colonies with light coloration and thin rings of hair. Although the trait of thin bands of hair could be from a mixing of German black bee genetics, and the light coloration from Persian bee genetics:
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To compare, true Saharan bee photos and videos:
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Labeille-saharienne-Apis-mellifera-sahariensis-Originale_fig2_350322586
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hA8s72lBZU (bees at 0:49 in video)
(Saharan bees from southern Morocco?)
Algerian Saharan bees (mixture of both dark and light colored bees, skip to 1:30 in the video to see the bees):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbz-4EDl1Cs
And possible Saharan bees from Morocco? (bees at 0:51 in video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1C6IIOdbes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCBMUq9EDbs (bees at 2:19 in video)
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Labeille-saharienne-Apis-mellifera-sahariensis-Originale_fig2_350322586
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hA8s72lBZU (bees at 0:49 in video)
(Saharan bees from southern Morocco?)
Algerian Saharan bees (mixture of both dark and light colored bees, skip to 1:30 in the video to see the bees):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbz-4EDl1Cs
And possible Saharan bees from Morocco? (bees at 0:51 in video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1C6IIOdbes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCBMUq9EDbs (bees at 2:19 in video)
Apis mellifera intermissa (Tunisian bee/Tellian bee/Punic bee)
Black bees from the Maghreb. They are said to be aggressive and productive, flying at low temperatures.
Apis mellifera major
From the Rif Mountains in Northwest Africa and southern Spain. Is now merged into Apis mellifera intermissa. A. m. major has one of the longest tongues, along with Apis mellifera caucasia (Caucasian bee).
Apis mellifera siciliana (Sicilian black bee)
Sicilian bees look like Tunisian bees (A. m. intermissa) which they are related to.
Picture of Sicilian black bees on page 259:
http://www.bulletinofinsectology.org/pdfarticles/vol71-2018-257-271fontana.pdf
Picture of Sicilian black bees on page 259:
http://www.bulletinofinsectology.org/pdfarticles/vol71-2018-257-271fontana.pdf
Apis mellifera iberiensis (Spanish black bee)
Valid subspecies, or is the Spanish black bees a hybrid between the Tunisian and German black bee? https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13592-017-0498-2/figures/1
Portuguese bee (?)
The "Spanish black bees" of northern Portugal are a new different sublineage of the "A" lineage, sublineage "AIII", which could mean that they are actually their own subspecies, different from the Spanish black bee: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13592-017-0498-2/figures/1
Apis mellifera ruttneri (Maltese bee)
Quote form this website about Maltese bees: https://www.melitabees.com/black-queens.html#/
"The honey bees of Malta are similar in size to A m Sicula and A m Intermissa, but have shorter legs and wings; the wings are also much narrower. The abdomen of the bees found in Malta is considerably wider (ster- num index [SI] = 77.74) than in its relative, A m intermissa (81.52). Thus, A m ruttneri is the ’broadest’ subspecies of A mellifera, even broader than A m mellifera (SI = 78.61) (Ruttner 1992). While the pigmentation of the bees does not differ much from A m intermissa or A m sicula, they have considerably longer hair on the abdomen. Whereas the cubital distances of A m ruttneri differ greatly from A m sicula and A m intermissa, the cubital index is similar to A m sicula, but different from A m intermissa. "
"The honey bees of Malta are similar in size to A m Sicula and A m Intermissa, but have shorter legs and wings; the wings are also much narrower. The abdomen of the bees found in Malta is considerably wider (ster- num index [SI] = 77.74) than in its relative, A m intermissa (81.52). Thus, A m ruttneri is the ’broadest’ subspecies of A mellifera, even broader than A m mellifera (SI = 78.61) (Ruttner 1992). While the pigmentation of the bees does not differ much from A m intermissa or A m sicula, they have considerably longer hair on the abdomen. Whereas the cubital distances of A m ruttneri differ greatly from A m sicula and A m intermissa, the cubital index is similar to A m sicula, but different from A m intermissa. "
Apis mellifera adansonii
In this article (http://www.bulletinofinsectology.org/pdfarticles/vol71-2018-257-271fontana.pdf), A. m. adansonii is said to range from Senegal in the west, to Niger in the north, to Zambia in the south in Africa. That is a huge range. Could this be because A. m. adansonii is at the equator where the same tropical habitat is very large because it extends both north and south of the equator?
It is possible that we have Apis mellifera adansonii genetics here in the United states because the Buckfast bee had a percentage of bees from Mt. Elgon (Uganda). Uganda seems to be a hybridization zone of Apis mellifera scutellata, Apis mellifera adansonii, and Apis mellifera jemenitica.
It is possible that we have Apis mellifera adansonii genetics here in the United states because the Buckfast bee had a percentage of bees from Mt. Elgon (Uganda). Uganda seems to be a hybridization zone of Apis mellifera scutellata, Apis mellifera adansonii, and Apis mellifera jemenitica.
Apis mellifera scutellata (African bee/African killer bee)
This is the famous African killer bee that spread from South America up to the southern United States. The African bee out did all the other kinds of bees in the tropics of South America, and became established in the wild there. Before the introduction of the African bee, the honeybee was not able to establish itself in the tropical climate of South America. The temperate subspecies already there before the introduction of the African bee were only kept alive by beekeepers, but never thrived, and wild colonies remained scarce there in the tropics.
Here, in the book "Honeybee Ecology", by Thomas D. Seeley, it is written about how well the African bee has done and that it is the dominant bee in the tropical climate of South America:
Page 144,
"Furthermore, the observation that African bees often cope with local forage dearths by migrating to richer areas, rather than remaining in one location and falling back on food reserves (see below), suggests that they rely less on food storage than do European bees. On the other hand, beekeepers in South Africa (Fletcher 1978) and South America (Michener 1975) report excellent annual honey crops-50 to 200 kilograms per colony-with African bees. Perhaps, though, this reflects certain apicultural manipulations of the bees, such as supplying colonies with a superabundance of empty combs and so has little relevance to the way African bees live in nature."
Page 141,
"Moreover, the honeybees in South America, although they are now evidently pure African bees (at least in northern South America) (Daly 1975, Nunamaker and Wilson 1981)............"
"Of the 26 African queens which escaped in Brazil and constitued the nucleus of the population there, all but one, form Tanzania, came from the vicinity of Pretoria, South Africa (Michener 1982)."
African bees are known to be aggressive, although this could be exaggerated. Mixing of subspecies, such as African bees mixed with commercial Italian bee stock, is known to cause "hot" hives.
Here, in the book "Honeybee Ecology", by Thomas D. Seeley, it is written about how well the African bee has done and that it is the dominant bee in the tropical climate of South America:
Page 144,
"Furthermore, the observation that African bees often cope with local forage dearths by migrating to richer areas, rather than remaining in one location and falling back on food reserves (see below), suggests that they rely less on food storage than do European bees. On the other hand, beekeepers in South Africa (Fletcher 1978) and South America (Michener 1975) report excellent annual honey crops-50 to 200 kilograms per colony-with African bees. Perhaps, though, this reflects certain apicultural manipulations of the bees, such as supplying colonies with a superabundance of empty combs and so has little relevance to the way African bees live in nature."
Page 141,
"Moreover, the honeybees in South America, although they are now evidently pure African bees (at least in northern South America) (Daly 1975, Nunamaker and Wilson 1981)............"
"Of the 26 African queens which escaped in Brazil and constitued the nucleus of the population there, all but one, form Tanzania, came from the vicinity of Pretoria, South Africa (Michener 1982)."
African bees are known to be aggressive, although this could be exaggerated. Mixing of subspecies, such as African bees mixed with commercial Italian bee stock, is known to cause "hot" hives.
Apis mellifera monticola
Might just be a mountain strain of Apis scutellata and some other subspecies of bees. They are gentle and calm compared to the lowland Apis mellifera scutellata (African bee).
Apis mellifera capensis (Cape bee)
From the Cape Province in South Africa. Cape bees are able to breed through Thelytoky, which means that infertile workers can lay eggs that produce female workers or queens instead of the usual drones that workers of other subspecies of bees produce when their colonies go queenless.
There were some bees with this same Thelytoky ability in Arizona. Dee Lusby was breeding these with small cell foundation. It might be that these were Cape bees in Arizona.
The African bees introduced to the New World are said to have come from near Pretoria, South Africa, with one queen coming from Tanzania. In northern South Africa, (near or around Pretoria), A. m. capensis like genetics are present, mixed in with the African bee (A. m. scutellata): Genetic diversity and population structure of two subspecies of western honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) in the Republic of South Africa as revealed by microsatellite genotyping
So that might have been how we could have gotten A. m. capensis genetics into the United States, via the African bee introduced first into Brazil that traveled north to the United States.
But, Lusby's bees in Arizona did not exactly match the Cape bee. The Cape bee was more extreme in it's Thelytoky ability than Lusby's bees:
"There are both similarities and differences between laying workers of Cape bees and LUS. Cape bees can have workers with developed ovaries while brood is present (Anderson 1963). We have not found this to occur in LUS (DeGrandi-Hoffman unpubl. data). Internal fighting among nestmates following the removal of a queen and a subsequent increase in the number of dead bees on the bottom board occurs in Cape, LUS, CP, and cd bees. As in Cape bees, most of the dead LUS bees did not have ovary development. In Cape bees an average of 28% of the workers have developed ovaries 13 days after queen removal, and in LUS the average is 27% when eggs from laying workers are first seen (Anderson 1963). Significantly fewer workers in queenless LUS colonies have developed ovaries compared to CP or cd, suggesting that worker ovaries might be more effectively suppressed by the presence of laying workers in LUS (Velthuis 1970). Cape bee workers lay unfertilized diploid eggs because during ana-phase II the egg pronucleus and the central descendent of the first polar body fuse to form a diploid zygote nucleus (Verma and Ruttner 1983). Whether a similar cytological mechanism exists in LUS is yet to be determined."
Cape bees vary in color from strain to strain it seems. Here is an article with photos of Cape bees:
http://ujubee.com/?p=627
There were some bees with this same Thelytoky ability in Arizona. Dee Lusby was breeding these with small cell foundation. It might be that these were Cape bees in Arizona.
The African bees introduced to the New World are said to have come from near Pretoria, South Africa, with one queen coming from Tanzania. In northern South Africa, (near or around Pretoria), A. m. capensis like genetics are present, mixed in with the African bee (A. m. scutellata): Genetic diversity and population structure of two subspecies of western honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) in the Republic of South Africa as revealed by microsatellite genotyping
So that might have been how we could have gotten A. m. capensis genetics into the United States, via the African bee introduced first into Brazil that traveled north to the United States.
But, Lusby's bees in Arizona did not exactly match the Cape bee. The Cape bee was more extreme in it's Thelytoky ability than Lusby's bees:
"There are both similarities and differences between laying workers of Cape bees and LUS. Cape bees can have workers with developed ovaries while brood is present (Anderson 1963). We have not found this to occur in LUS (DeGrandi-Hoffman unpubl. data). Internal fighting among nestmates following the removal of a queen and a subsequent increase in the number of dead bees on the bottom board occurs in Cape, LUS, CP, and cd bees. As in Cape bees, most of the dead LUS bees did not have ovary development. In Cape bees an average of 28% of the workers have developed ovaries 13 days after queen removal, and in LUS the average is 27% when eggs from laying workers are first seen (Anderson 1963). Significantly fewer workers in queenless LUS colonies have developed ovaries compared to CP or cd, suggesting that worker ovaries might be more effectively suppressed by the presence of laying workers in LUS (Velthuis 1970). Cape bee workers lay unfertilized diploid eggs because during ana-phase II the egg pronucleus and the central descendent of the first polar body fuse to form a diploid zygote nucleus (Verma and Ruttner 1983). Whether a similar cytological mechanism exists in LUS is yet to be determined."
Cape bees vary in color from strain to strain it seems. Here is an article with photos of Cape bees:
http://ujubee.com/?p=627
Apis mellifera unicolor (Malagasy bee)
The Malagasy bee is an all black bee. The "unicolor" in its scientific name means "single color". All the bees in a Malagasy bee colony are uniformly black in color.
Apis mellifera lamarckii (Egyptian bee)
Egyptian bees are small, and are said by Brother Adam to look similar to Apis cerana (Asian honeybee). They are from the Nile in Egypt and Sudan. Incredibly, like the Asian honeybees (Apis cerana), they make no propolis. Egyptian bee genetics are present in the southern US.
Apis mellifera syriaca (Syrian bee/Holy-Land bees)
These are probably the bees written about in the Bible. Syrian bees are said to be fierce by Brother Adam. They are lemon yellow colored with black tipped abdomens. Syrian bee mtDNA has been found in the Southwest, US where the winters are mild.
Photo of Syrian bees in Jordan:
https://www.jordanwinery.com/culinary/beekeeping-pollinator-sanctuaries/
https://winecountrytable.com/eat-drink/chefs-tips/25-fascinating-honey-bee-facts-to-sweeten-the-mind
Photo of Syrian bees in Jordan:
https://www.jordanwinery.com/culinary/beekeeping-pollinator-sanctuaries/
https://winecountrytable.com/eat-drink/chefs-tips/25-fascinating-honey-bee-facts-to-sweeten-the-mind
Kufra Oasis bee from Libya (New subspecies)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8751000/8751889.stm
https://www.international.uni-halle.de/university/campus_life/honeybees/
https://www.international.uni-halle.de/university/campus_life/honeybees/
"Y" Lineage
Apis mellifera jemenitica (Arabian bee/Yemeni bee)
Apis mellifera jemenitica (?) from Middle East:
The Arabian bee is the smallest subspecies of Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera). The Arabian bee is smaller than the larger Asian Honeybee (Apis cerana) subspecies. They are similar in looks to Apis cerana. Apis mellifera jemenitica like genes have been found in New York:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13592-020-00836-4/figures/3
Apis mellifera monticola (Valid subspecies?) of Mt. Elgon (Uganda) from the Buckfast bee imported here could be why we have Arabian bee genetics in the US. Uganda seems to be a hybridization zone of Apis mellifera scutellata, Apis mellifera adansonii, and Apis mellifera jemenitica.
Brother Adam's Monticola log:
https://www.beesource.com/threads/monticola-picture-log.366059/#post-1844461
The nectar flow might be a big factor in what subspecies are dominant in an area. New York has two separate, Spring and then Fall, nectar flows which might be similar to the Arabian bee's nectar flow. Unfortunately, there may not be a full complement of the genes of the Arabian bee in America because there may have been only a small percentage of Arabian bee genetics within the Buckfast bee hybrid.
Buckfast bees were imported to the US in the 1960s to Weaver's apiaries in Texas, and imported to Canada in 1989.
The Apis mellifera jemenitica in the Middle East could be a different subspecies or lineage (the "Y" lineage was discovered in East Africa, not Middle East) from the Apis mellifera jemenitica in Africa. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3896/IBRA.1.52.3.03
Quote from page 129:
"The genetic relationship between African and Arabian Peninsula Apis mellifera jemenitica populations, and their relationships to other surrounding subspecies have not been conclusively addressed. The available mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) studies indicate that several different mtDNA haplotypes are found in populations referred to as Apis mellifera jemenitica. Ethiopian samples referred to as Apis mellifera jemenitica (n = 16 colonies from 3 sites) were reported to possess a new mitochondrial lineage ―Y‖ which differs from the ―O‖ lineage of Near East Asia and ―A‖ lineage of Africa (Franck et al., 2001). The honey bees of Sudan are classified as Apis mellifera jemenitica based on morphometrics (Ruttner, 1988), but mtDNA analysis did not confirm the presence of ―Y‖ lineage (El-Niweiri and Moritz, 2008). Likewise, preliminary studies of A. m. jemenitica from Saudi Arabia (8 colonies) and Yemen (Socotra Island, 7 colonies) revealed the presence of O and A lineage haplotypes, but did not detect any Y lineage mitochondrial sequences (Smith, unpublished data). These results are consistent with the contention of Meixner et al. (2011) that A. m. simensis of Ethiopia is distinct from A. m. jemenitica. This situation seems analogous to that of A. m. monticola. Apis mellifera populations in different high mountain areas of Africa have been grouped together as Apis mellifera monticola on the basis of morphometric similarity (Meixner et al., 1989); this suggested that these were relicts of a once larger population that occupied lower elevations at times when the climate was cooler. However, a later mtDNA study (Hepburn et al., 2000) did not support the idea of a monophyletic group of relictual populations occupying an archipelago of high altitude habitat islands. On the basis of mtDNA evidence, they concluded that the populations on different mountains should be regarded as ecotypically differentiated populations, each derived from the populations surrounding their particular mountain and convergent on morphology adapted to high altitude habitats (Hepburn and Radloff, 1998). A similar situation may pertain to A. m. jemenitica. The morphometrically similar African and Asian populations currently called ―Apis mellifera jemenitica‖ could comprise a single monophyletic lineage, adapted to hot, arid conditions. Alternatively, A. m. jemenitica could comprise several different, genetically distinct populations that differentiated from their respective neighbouring populations and converged on similar physical characteristics along with adaptation to similar hot arid habitats. These populations might also experience gene flow from other neighbouring populations, leading to the introduction and spread of mtDNA haplotypes characteristic of their neighbours. In this regard Franck et al. (2001) particularly suggested the importance of surveying microsatellites or other nuclear markers of the honey bee subspecies from Eastern Africa and the Middle East, to better understand their phylogeography. The African and Asian Apis mellifera jemenitica have been geographically isolated from one another for several thousands of years, and the occurrence of independent evolutionary changes as a result of long-term geographical isolation has been well stated (Avise et al., 1987; Smith 1991a, 1991b; Smith 2002). The newly described A. m. simensis in Ethiopia indicates that much additional survey of African and Arabian populations is needed before the diversity and distribution of A. m. jemenitica can be described with certainty "
Apis mellifera simensis? (Ethiopian bee)
From Highlands of Ethiopia. Might be in "Y" lineage. Thought to be different from Apis mellifera jemenitica: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3896/IBRA.1.52.3.03
"C"/"O" Lineage (Southeast Europe/Middle East)
"C" Lineage (Southeast Europe)
Apis mellifera ligustica (Italian bee/Ligurian bee)
Italian bees are the common light colored bees used by beekeepers all around the world.
Apis mellifera carnica (Carniolan bee)
The Carniolan bee is closely related to the Italian bee, but dark in color. This is a common bee kept in the US and other parts of the world.
Apis mellifera carpatica (Carpathian bee)
From the Carpathian mountains. Carpathian bees are now under Apis mellifera carnica, although they could be a different strain of Carniolan.
Apis mellifera sossimai (Ukrainian steppe bee)
The common bee of Ukraine similar to the Carniolan bee.
Apis mellifera macedonica (Macedonian bee)
Apis mellifera macedonica could be a synonym of Apis mellifera carnica. Photo of A. m. macedonica: https://www.mindenpictures.com/stock-photo-macedonian-bee-apis-mellifera-macedonica-workers-on-honeycomb-native-naturephotography-image00642284.html
Apis mellifera cecropia (Greek bee)
Greek bees are from the southern part of Greece. They have both light and dark bees mixed, so may appear like hybrid bees. The bees in northern Greece are Apis mellifera macedonica, a different subspecies.
"O" Lineage (Middle East)
Apis mellifera caucasia (Caucasian bee)
Caucasian bees were popular or famous in Russia, and were said to out do the native German black bees there in Russia. They are said to use a whole lot of propolis that makes it hard to move frames around in the hive.
Apis mellifera remipes (Yellow Caucasian bee)
Yellow Caucasian bees are from the lower elevation of the Caucasus mountains. The famous Caucasian bee (A. m. caucasia, aka: Grey Caucasian bee) is from the higher altitudes of the Caucasus mountains.
Yellow Caucasian bees (A. m. remipes) are said to be a hybrid between the Persian bee (A. m. meda) and Caucasian bee (A. m. caucasia).
Yellow Caucasian bees (A. m. remipes) are said to be a hybrid between the Persian bee (A. m. meda) and Caucasian bee (A. m. caucasia).
Apis mellifera anatolica (Anatolian bee)
There are two kinds of Anatolian bees, Western and Central Anatolian.
Apis mellifera meda (Persian bee)
Range of Persian bee?
Apis mellifera cypria (Cyprian bee)
A beautiful orange colored bee from the island of Cyprus. They are known to be aggressive, but some strains seem gentle. Brother Adam said that the Cyprian bee was the best at overwintering compared to all the bees he has raised, and that he has not lost a Cyprian colony through Winter of the 50 years of raising Cyprian bees. This is interesting because they are from a mild Winter climate.
Apis mellifera adami (Cretan bee)
Cretan bees are black colored and aggressive. They were named after Brother Adam, A. m. adami.
"M" Lineage (Europe/Central Asia)
Apis mellifera mellifera (German black bee)
The German black bee has the largest range of the bees in Europe. There are different strains of German black bee that look different.
Apis mellifera sinisxinyuan (Chinese black bee)
This is a new subspecies found in the Tien Shan mountains in Western China. Before this, the German black bee was the only subspecies within the "M" lineage. The discovery of this new subspecies of the "M" lineage in the east suggests that the "M" lineage originated in the east, maybe Central Asia, rather than Europe.
Hybrid bee breeds
Russian bee
The Russian bee is a mixture of different subspecies of bees. Said to be a mixture of Apis mellifera carnica, Apis mellifera caucasia, and Apis mellifera ligustica. Although I have suspected that there could be a percentage of Apis mellifera mellifera within the Russian bee, too, because Apis mellifera mellifera genetics of the Middle Russian strain of Apis mellifera mellifera are dominant in Siberia.
The Russian bees were imported to the Russian Far East where Asian Honeybees (Apis cerana) range. Because the Russian Far East is thought to be where the Western Honeybee first got infected with Varroa destructor (from the Asian Honeybee), the Russian bees were imported to the United States in an effort to bring in a Varroa resistant stock of bees.
The Russian bees were imported to the Russian Far East where Asian Honeybees (Apis cerana) range. Because the Russian Far East is thought to be where the Western Honeybee first got infected with Varroa destructor (from the Asian Honeybee), the Russian bees were imported to the United States in an effort to bring in a Varroa resistant stock of bees.
Buckfast bee
The Buckfast bee was bred by Brother Adam, and were imported to the US in the 1960s to Weaver's apiaries in Texas, and imported to Canada in 1989.
Quote from Wikipedia:
"The following is a list of the subspecies (and strains if stated) that were later included in the Buckfast breeding program by Brother Adam, not all were eventually included into the Buckfast breed: Buckfast (B1), A. m. ligustica (Ligurian strain; all other strains proved susceptible to Acarine, especially those imported from the U.S. and of an all-golden color), A. m. mellifera (Gale's French, Brown Provence, Swedish and Finnish strains; the Irish strain proved itself even more susceptible to Acarine than the British strain), A. m. cypria, A. m. carnica, A. m. cecropia, A. m. meda (Iraqi and Iranian strains), A. m. sahariensis, A. m. anatoliaca (Turkish and Armenian strains), A. m. caucasica, A. m. lamarckii, A. m. monticola (Mount Elgon strain), A. m. adami and A. m. macedonica (Mount Athos strain).[4]"
Brother Adam's travels in search of different subspecies of bees for his Buckfast bee breeding project:
http://www.pedigreeapis.org/biblio/books/voyages/2voy/en.shtml
http://www.pedigreeapis.org/biblio/books/voyages/4voy/en.shtml
Quote from Wikipedia:
"The following is a list of the subspecies (and strains if stated) that were later included in the Buckfast breeding program by Brother Adam, not all were eventually included into the Buckfast breed: Buckfast (B1), A. m. ligustica (Ligurian strain; all other strains proved susceptible to Acarine, especially those imported from the U.S. and of an all-golden color), A. m. mellifera (Gale's French, Brown Provence, Swedish and Finnish strains; the Irish strain proved itself even more susceptible to Acarine than the British strain), A. m. cypria, A. m. carnica, A. m. cecropia, A. m. meda (Iraqi and Iranian strains), A. m. sahariensis, A. m. anatoliaca (Turkish and Armenian strains), A. m. caucasica, A. m. lamarckii, A. m. monticola (Mount Elgon strain), A. m. adami and A. m. macedonica (Mount Athos strain).[4]"
Brother Adam's travels in search of different subspecies of bees for his Buckfast bee breeding project:
http://www.pedigreeapis.org/biblio/books/voyages/2voy/en.shtml
http://www.pedigreeapis.org/biblio/books/voyages/4voy/en.shtml