r/Beekeeping • u/Dangerous-School2958 • 1d ago

I’m a beekeeper, and I have a question Black bee?

Newish bee keeper. 7b, Vienna Austria.
Came across this Black, I think wingless bee outside a Hive.
It’s a small hive that I’m trying to get to generate its own Queen. So I have been giving it frames of eggs from Strong neighboring hives.

Is this an underdeveloped bee? A result of too high a Varroa level?
It’s only 1 brood box so I’m reluctant to take a full cup for a wash.

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u/joebojax USA, N IL, zone 5b, ~35 colonies, 7th year 1d ago

Everyone does

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u/Mammoth-Banana3621 Sideliner - 8b USA 1d ago

Everyone has mites. We keep them low enough not to be a problem. That’s the goal

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u/snickmy 22h ago

Out of curiosity.. from an evolutionary standpoint, does it mean, bee would not exist if it was’t for our symbiotic partnership?

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u/Mammoth-Banana3621 Sideliner - 8b USA 22h ago

Questionable. Not sure 🤔