I’m located in Phoenix Arizona. We average 90 days over 100 degrees and of those 11 average over 110.(but it’s a dry heat lol). Which of the commonly available species would do best in these conditions if I were to buy bees?
Short of the common information that Africanized honey bees are moving up into this area and do very well here, I’d much rather avoid them. There doesn’t seem to be much specific information on what species do the best in particular climates.
I am planning to attend the next local beekeepers meeting here in about two weeks but thought I would get some other opinions in the meantime.
In Australia and through Queensland the Italian (apis mellifera ligustica) seems to be the bee of choice. The climate is similar to Arizona with dry heat and summer days in the high 30s and low 40s (95-105 fahrenheit).
I’d have to say it’s bloody hot over in Australia, but it ranges from dry heat in Adelaide to Very hot and humid in North Queensland and Darwin, to freezing Tasmania. Not sure about the different species all around Australia?
I have to agree with the others. Italian Bees are wonderful for adapting to a wide range of weather and temperatures. At your next beekeepers meeting you will probably learn more about AHB than you wanted to know. I have to say though, the Arizona beekeepers have learned to work with AHB fearlessly. They are using successful methods and adapting to the AHB preference for swarming. I hope you will share what you learn from them here.
Does not anyone have caucus(might be mispell here)? That’s what I have and they seem to do well in our climate. Being from AZ originally myself, I don’t miss the high heat, but we do get up to 100 once in awhile though not this year so far. About 98 was our highest so far, but now that Fall is around the corner for us, we are still in 80’s daytime and dropping to 40’s nights. Won’t be long though and the snaow will fly. I suppose most bees can adapt anywhere, but those Africans seem just a bit more than I’d like to deal with. I read a rather lengthy artilcle from a beekeeper just yestrday on Africans and they seem to be mean-spirited just for the fun of it.