Cyprian Bee

The Cyprus bee (Apis mellifera cypria) is the native honey bee subspecies of the island of Cyprus. It stands out for the bright orange-yellow bands on its abdomen and is adapted to heat and the island's dry summers. It is known for its marked defensiveness, and it has developed a remarkable defensive behaviour against the Oriental hornet: surrounding it en masse and suffocating it.

What is the Cyprus bee, and where does it live?

The Cyprus bee is the island's own geographical subspecies and belongs to the Middle East–Anatolia lineage (lineage O). Having remained relatively isolated under island conditions for a long time, it has formed a distinct population. The island's hot, dry summers, short mild winters and vegetation dominated by maquis and thyme have shaped the traits of this bee.

In the late nineteenth century, the Cyprus bee was taken to Europe and America because of its industriousness. However, its defensiveness meant it never gained a lasting place among beekeepers, and it was soon abandoned. Today, hybridisation with imported bees on the island is seen as the main threat to the native population.

How do you recognise a Cyprus bee?

• Colour: bright orange-yellow bands on the abdominal segments; described as darker and more vivid in tone than the Italian bee.
• Size: relatively small and slender.
• Similarity: close in appearance to the Syrian bee; both are eastern Mediterranean bees with yellow-orange bands.

Identifying the subspecies by colour is misleading; since imported Italian bees and bees of other origins are also kept on the island, a reliable distinction is made by morphometrics and genetic analysis.

The Cyprus bee's defence against hornets

One of the most important enemies of bees in Cyprus is the Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis). This large hornet hunts in front of hives and can enter weak colonies. While the Asian honey bee surrounds hornets and kills them with body heat (heat balling), the Oriental hornet tolerates high temperatures.

A study published in 2007 showed that Cyprus bees take a different route: the bees form a tight ball around the hornet, specifically blocking the movement of its abdominal segments and stopping its breathing, thereby killing it by asphyxiation. The researchers also noted that the bees make a distinct hissing sound during these encounters.

Traits of the Cyprus bee

• Defensiveness: high; it can react quickly and in large numbers when the hive is opened. Descriptions of it as "peaceful" in some sources are not accurate.
• Heat tolerance: it can work through long, hot, dry summers.
• Industriousness: its hard work in the field is why it attracted interest in the nineteenth century.
• Cold adaptation: adapted to the mild island climate; not suitable for regions with long, harsh winters.

The Cyprus bee and similar subspecies

Conserving the Cyprus bee

As a small island population, the Cyprus bee is vulnerable to imported queens and colonies. As drones from imported bees mate with native queens, the native genetics are diluted. As on other Mediterranean islands such as Malta and Sicily, conserving the native bee and producing pure lines is important in Cyprus.

Management notes for working with Cyprus bees

1. Wear a full bee suit: keep inspections short and do them in the cooler hours.
2. Watch hornet pressure: check the front of the hives in late summer and autumn; reduce the entrance of weak colonies.
3. Provide a water source: keep clean water near the apiary during hot summers.
4. Site the apiary away from houses: leave enough distance for defensive colonies.
5. Protect native genetics: learn the local rules before bringing queens onto the island from outside.