Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-03-01
Tho italian Bee.

The recent introduction of that species Il
honey bee known as the Italian Bee has n.
cited some curiosity. The following extract
from work Just published in London, by Il.
Z. Hermann, Of Canton Graubandon, SwitS-
erland affords somewhat of the needful iufor.
lnation which is desired Mr.. Hermann calla
them the Italian Alp Bees, which are tBs
most perfect on the borders Of Granbandou
the farthest one goes from the Alps, the lean
handsome are the best. ~ -l"
Tney thrive at a great height above the sea,
at 1850 Feet and prefer the northern cline 20
the ~armer. They are .tenlet amiable liGIIs
crea es, never stinging unless tlleE ore pro-
Epke !, aid always show a favorable d.scrinua.
toward their master. They realize, saws our
autLor, the beau ideal Of all bee lovers He
d-s; rbes tlep thus; ...r r's,- -..,..,,..,
The Italian yellow bee differs from thS
common black bee in its longer, sleudcpss
form, and light chrome yellow color, viii
light birthstone colored wings aud two ,.pr-
ange rcd girths, each one sixth 5f Sd ikch
wide. Working bees as well as drdtes, have
his mark. The drones are further dstinguiSh-
ed by the girths being scolioped, like the
i spotted water serpent and obtain an astOuish-
ing size, lmost half as corpulent ngain as The
blacki drone. sf f-G III Iiouh
Where the home of the Italian bee is by
far the greater number of queens nre eldark a.
most chestnut Brown, and for all that there iS
no difference in the color of the working bees
whether they be produced by light or, daxk
colored queen, ..rt s....f r..,5r7rs t-rf
"All Italian Alp bees lave The ssme Dis
tirctive mark, thai is. the two .olanged girthI,
no matter whether dark or light and a dark
queen will just as well produce light ones, a.
a light one produce dark queens, and the eel
or has therefore not the least influence on ths
race, but solely Tire marks q distinction. "5.
"Thcse bees are a!micst transparent, when
The sun Shines on them. The cells 6f tkO
Italian bees are considerably iteljef and
broader than those of the black ybsdsg7 EiE-
teen cells Of the Italian bees are as. Bro&dl a
sixteen cells OF the black kind. g..
The exbalation Of an Italian bee hive s
pungent and easy TO be distingn ished frpln n
German hive If piece of honey is any
where about, the Italians are sure. to be. The
very first TO fnd it out. Long before he
black bees they come out and are induBtriou1
until late in autumn, when the black bees
have long ceased to work. Everywhers thev
Scent nc money Hrat, ana arg flngrEiore tne
first TO discover a weak neighbprihg hive aud
to rob them Of their stores. 'lr"' -A@
At is seldom known that an Italian hive
will harbor German bees, for the Italians ro-
sist attack much more courageously and
know how to keep their house clear. On the
other hand, after few weeks, Italian beas
will be observed to marc h in and out Of Ger
man hives, jus as if they were quite at home
such is the case if there is only one Italian
hive on the stand. The cause is easily e1-
planned. The Italians belong to the long-6ng-
cred craft, and creep into other hives probA-
bly, TO look after the stores then they begin
10 like the PLACE and they stop ly joininghP
back people ........ t..,...