Syrian Bee

The Syrian bee (Apis mellifera syriaca) is the native honey bee subspecies of the eastern Mediterranean (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and surrounding areas). It is a small-bodied, yellow-banded bee, very well adapted to heat and drought; on the other hand, it is highly defensive, swarms often and tends to abandon the nest. Its tolerance to varroa has attracted the interest of researchers.

Where does the Syrian bee live?

The natural range of the Syrian bee is the coastal and inland regions of the eastern Mediterranean: Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Israel. In Türkiye, the influence of the Syrian bee is reported along the southern border and in parts of south-eastern Anatolia; transition populations with the Anatolian and Iranian bees occur in these areas.

The Syrian bee has declined in many places. In Israel, commercial beekeeping has largely switched to the calmer Italian bee, and imported bees have replaced the native one. In countries such as Jordan, projects have been run to conserve the native bee.

How do you recognise a Syrian bee?

• Size: one of the smallest bees of the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
• Colour: distinct yellow bands on the first abdominal segments; the shield behind the thorax (scutellum) can be bright yellow.
• Abdomen shape: the tip of the abdomen looks relatively pointed.

Because of its yellow bands, it can be confused with the Italian and Cyprus bees. Since hybridisation with the commonly imported Italian bee has occurred, not every yellow bee photographed in the region is a Syrian bee.

Behavioural traits of the Syrian bee

• High defensiveness: it has been found to be very defensive in assessments; when the hive is opened it can attack quickly and in large numbers.
• Cuts back brood in the heat: in the hottest, driest months it reduces brood rearing, balancing population against stores.
• Many swarm cells: when preparing to swarm, it builds an unusual number of queen cells.
• Several virgin queens: after the old queen leaves with a swarm, the colony may keep more than one virgin queen for a while, reducing the risk of being queenless until the new queen has mated and settled.
• Absconding: the colony has a strong tendency to abandon the nest entirely when forage fails or it is disturbed.
• Small colonies: it works with a smaller population than European subspecies.

Adaptation to heat and drought

The Syrian bee evolved in a climate of long, hot, dry summers and short, mild winters. It carries water and fans to control the temperature inside the hive; during summer dearth it shrinks its population to reduce the consumption of stores. These traits are considered valuable for breeding in regions where drought is increasing with climate change.

The Syrian bee and varroa tolerance

High tolerance to the varroa mite and other pests has been reported in the Syrian bee. Genetic studies have examined traits in this bee linked to hygienic behaviour and varroa resistance. This makes conserving the native population important both for beekeeping in the region and for future breeding work.

Still, tolerance does not mean that mite counts are unnecessary. Especially in colonies mixed with imported bees, it is unknown to what extent the resistance is retained; regular counts should be made.

Syrian bee compared with other subspecies

Management notes for working with Syrian bees

1. Use full protective equipment: inspect in the cooler hours, briefly and calmly.
2. Watch swarm preparations closely: since it can build many queen cells, keep the interval between checks short.
3. Prevent absconding: monitor stores and water during summer dearth and avoid unnecessary disturbance.
4. Site the apiary away from houses: leave enough distance from roads, gardens and animal shelters.
5. Protect native genetics: if native bees are protected in your area, consult the authorities before bringing in an imported line.