The world of bees is diverse, and the question of whether “black bees” produce honey often arises. The term “black bee” is ambiguous, referring to several bee types with varying characteristics and honey-making capabilities. Understanding these distinctions clarifies which “black bees” contribute to honey production.
Understanding “Black Bees”
The designation “black bee” is not a formal scientific classification. Instead, it commonly refers to several distinct bee groups. One interpretation points to the European Dark Bee (Apis mellifera mellifera), a naturally dark subspecies of the common Western honey bee. This bee is native to much of Northern and Western Europe.
Another group described as “black bees” includes various species of bumblebees. Many bumblebee species exhibit black and yellow markings, and some are predominantly black. Carpenter bees, typically large and black, are also sometimes mistaken for bumblebees due to their size and coloration. Other solitary bee species that are primarily black might also be referred to as “black bees.”
Honey Production Across “Black Bee” Types
The ability to produce honey varies significantly among these different types of “black bees.” The European Dark Bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) is a subspecies of Apis mellifera, the Western honey bee, which is the primary species kept by beekeepers for honey production. Like other honey bee subspecies, they produce substantial quantities of honey, often sufficient for human harvest. This honey serves as a food source for their colony.
Bumblebees, while collecting nectar, produce a much smaller amount of a honey-like substance, often called “pot honey.” This “honey” is primarily for their colony’s immediate consumption and is not produced in quantities that humans typically harvest. Bumblebee colonies are considerably smaller than honey bee colonies, with fewer than 50 individuals, which limits their honey production capacity. Their stored nectar is more watery and serves as a short-term food reserve, mainly for feeding larvae and sustaining adults during unfavorable weather or when flowers are scarce.
In contrast, carpenter bees, which are largely solitary insects, do not produce or store honey. They gather pollen and nectar directly for energy and to provision their offspring in individual brood cells. These bees do not form large colonies or create the elaborate honeycombs necessary for significant honey storage. While important pollinators, their life cycle and food storage methods differ from honey-producing bees.
The Role of Honey for Bees
For bee species that produce it, such as honey bees and bumblebees, honey serves as a food source and energy reserve for the colony. This concentrated sugar fuels their metabolism, enabling activities like flight and hive maintenance. Honey is important for sustaining colonies when nectar is scarce, such as winter or during prolonged bad weather.
Honey provides the energy needed for worker bees to perform tasks and supports the growth and development of larvae. Honey bees cluster together in winter, metabolizing stored honey to generate heat and maintain hive temperatures around 85°F. This stored food allows social bee colonies to survive beyond the immediate foraging season.
Not All Bees Are Honey Producers
The bee world encompasses over 20,000 species, yet only a small fraction produce honey. Honey production in substantial quantities is a specialized trait primarily found within the Apis genus, which includes various species and subspecies of honey bees. Many bee species are pollinators, contributing to ecosystems and agriculture, but most do not produce honey.
This diversity means that if a “black bee” is a type of honey bee, like the European Dark Bee, it will produce honey. However, if the “black bee” refers to a bumblebee, it will produce only small, unharvestable amounts. If it is a carpenter bee or other solitary species, it will not produce honey at all. The presence or absence of honey production is linked to a bee’s specific biology, social structure, and survival strategies.