Anatolian Bee (Apis mellifera anatoliaca)

The Anatolian bee (Apis mellifera anatoliaca) is the native honey bee subspecies that lives naturally across most of the Anatolian peninsula. It is adapted to a continental climate in which hot, dry summers alternate with cold winters, and is known for its thrift, its wintering ability and the way it adjusts brood rearing to the forage available. Because it is spread over a large area it is not uniform: it has different ecotypes such as Muğla, Efe and Yığılca.

Where does the Anatolian bee live?

The Anatolian bee is found in western, central, northern and southern Anatolia, in very different environments, from the Aegean coast to the steppes of Central Anatolia and from the rainy slopes of the Black Sea to the hot Mediterranean coast. Türkiye's other native bees are found in different parts of the country:

• North-eastern Anatolia: The Caucasian bee (A. m. caucasia); Artvin and Ardahan are its gene centre.
• South-eastern Anatolia: The Iranian bee (A. m. meda) and, along the southern border, the Syrian bee (A. m. syriaca).
• Thrace: Carniolan-type bees.

These subspecies mix in transition zones. In addition, intensive migratory beekeeping and the trade in queens between regions have mixed local populations in many parts of Anatolia.

How do you recognise the Anatolian bee?

• Colour: Usually between dark brown and blackish; some populations show yellowish patches on the first abdominal segments.
• Body: Relatively small and sturdily built.
• Tongue: Medium length; shorter than the Caucasian bee's.

Colour alone is not enough to identify the race. In regions where mixing is common, workers of different shades can be seen in the same colony. A definite distinction is made by wing venation measurements (morphometry) and genetic analysis.

Strengths of the Anatolian bee

• Wintering success: Gets through long, cold winters with relatively low consumption.
• Thrift: Uses its stores economically when forage stops.
• Adaptation to drought: In a summer dearth it cuts back brood rearing and balances its population against its stores.
• Industriousness: Makes quick use of forage when it opens; gets work done even on weak, scattered sources.
• Adaptability: Populations adapted to local conditions are reported to fare steadily against disease.

The value of the Anatolian bee has also caught the attention of international breeders: Brother Adam, founder of the Buckfast line, brought the Anatolian bee into his line through crosses in his work.

Weaknesses of the Anatolian bee

• Defensiveness: There are big differences between lines; some populations are distinctly bad-tempered.
• Restlessness on the comb: In some colonies the bees run about when a frame is lifted; finding the queen becomes harder.
• Variability: Because of its wide range, its traits vary from region to region; a queen bought from another region may behave differently under your conditions.
• Moderate population: Its colonies usually grow more modestly than those of prolific lines such as the Italian and Buckfast.

Ecotypes of the Anatolian bee

The Anatolian bee is made up of ecotypes adapted to local conditions in different regions. These ecotypes differ in wintering, rate of development, swarming tendency and fit with the forage calendar. In Türkiye, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has registered local bee ecotypes such as Efe, Gökçeada, Hatay and Yığılca, as well as the Anatolian bee race itself.

Why should the Anatolian bee be protected?

Local subspecies and ecotypes are not just a cultural heritage but a practical genetic resource. A population that has adapted to a region's climate over thousands of years is often superior to imported genetics in that climate. The traits that will be needed in a changing climate are also stored in this diversity.

Uncontrolled queen trade, migratory moves to distant regions and careless use of foreign races dilute this resource. That is why protected mating areas, breeding work by local beekeepers' associations and pure breeding of registered ecotypes are important.

Management notes for working with the Anatolian bee

1. Choose a line: Variability in defensiveness and swarming tendency is large; rear queens from calm, productive colonies.
2. Requeen a bad-tempered colony: As the new queen's workers replace the old ones, behaviour changes within six to eight weeks.
3. Monitor stores in a summer dearth: The bees cut back brood, but stores can still fall; narrow the entrance against robbing.
4. Buy queens from a local breeder: A line selected in your own region keeps its adaptive advantage.
5. Keep records: Notes on wintering, yield and gentleness make next year's choice of breeders easier.