Apis mellifera ligustica is the subspecies of the Italian peninsula. It is regarded as the most widely used bee in the world, exported to temperate and warm climates and established in many countries.

Appearance

• Distinct yellow-golden bands on the abdominal segments
• Light-coloured hair
• Medium to long tongue

The pale colour makes the queen easier to find on the comb — a practical advantage that speeds up inspections.

Strengths

• Temperament: Generally gentle; stays on the comb during inspection
• High laying rate: The queen establishes a wide and continuous brood area
• Long seasonal activity: She continues brood rearing as long as forage lasts
• Good honey yield: Makes good use of a long, uninterrupted flow
• Little propolis: Inspection and harvesting are easier
• Willingness to draw comb: Works foundation quickly

Weaknesses

• High winter consumption: It forms a large winter cluster and needs more stores. A disadvantage in long, hard winters
• Late shutdown: It stops brood rearing late in autumn; this both consumes stores and extends the Varroa cycle
• Tendency to rob: A marked tendency to turn to other hives when the flow ends
• Weaker orientation: Drifting into neighbouring hives increases when hives are close together
• Poor fit for interrupted forage: Because it keeps rearing brood when the flow stops, stores run down quickly

Where it suits

It performs strongly in temperate climates with a long season and continuous forage. Where winters are short its high consumption is not a problem.

In regions with long, hard winters and short, interrupted flows it needs careful management: autumn feeding and monitoring of stores become critical.

Management notes

• Calculate winter stores above the regional average
• Guard against robbing when the flow ends; reduce entrances
• Late cessation of brood rearing affects the timing of Varroa treatment
• Arrange hives facing different directions and in different colours to reduce drifting