What's the difference?

Bill Hansen · Post by **Bill Hansen** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:23 am

New as I am to beekeeping, I have tried to find photos to show me the difference between Russian and Italian bees -- I'm assuming that there must be some differences you can see just by looking. I was taking photos of bees on my backyard clover. There are marked differences between the two in the photo I have attached. Other than the fact that one has a dark abdomen and the other a light one, can anyone tell me what the difference is? Is one Russian and the other Italian, or is there just a lot of variation in what bees look like?

Kurt Bower · Post by **Kurt Bower** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 6:55 am

Good pictures!
The obvious differences are well shown in your picture.
The real diiferences are more subtle and not visible to the naked eye.

Please visit http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/entomology/api ... s/2.16.pdf for a good list of variables.

Kurt

Bill Hansen · Post by **Bill Hansen** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:47 am

Thanks Kurt. The link was very helpful.

Bill