Italian Honey Bees

APIS MELLIFERA

Brandywine Zoo currently has one observation hive inhabited from early May through mid-September.

THREATS & CONSERVATION

Colony collapse disorder occurs when most of a colony’s worker bees abandon the queen. While this has always happened throughout history, since 2006 the rate of collapse has nearly doubled.

Fun Facts

The Italian honey bee is the most widely distributed of the honey bees, because it is able to adapt to most climates.

Bees fly about 20 miles per hour.