**Italian Honey Bees** (*Apis mellifera ligustica*) are a widely kept subspecies of the European honey bee, highly favored by beekeepers globally. They are native to Italy but are now the most commercially important and popular subspecies in North America. They are not pests but are an extremely valuable **pollinator** species. They become subjects of pest management concern only when they establish a wild nest (feral swarm) inside a human structure, posing a nuisance or potential risk due to the sheer size and weight of a mature colony and its honey stores.
Taxonomy and Classification
Italian Honey Bees belong to the order Hymenoptera, family Apidae. They undergo complete metamorphosis and are highly social insects living in perennial colonies. They are known for their relatively gentle nature, high honey production, tendency to rear a large brood, and their prolific swarming behavior (which leads to new colonies forming in unwanted places).
Physical Description
Italian Honey Bees are medium-sized bees, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long.
- **Appearance:** Distinguished by their yellowish-brown or golden abdomen with three to five bands of a lighter, brownish-yellow color. They are often lighter in color than other subspecies.
- **Nesting:** Feral colonies nest in dark, protected cavities, such as hollow trees, rock crevices, or, in man-made structures, wall voids, chimneys, and beneath floorboards.
- **Conflict Sign:** The presence of a large number of bees entering and exiting a small hole in a building (especially during warm parts of the day), accompanied by a humming sound or, eventually, visible moisture or dripping honey/wax on the ceiling or wall.
Distribution and Habitat
Italian Honey Bees are found in managed hives worldwide. Feral colonies can be found in natural and urban environments across most temperate and subtropical regions. Their habitat is restricted to protected, internal cavities large enough to house a colony of up to 50,000 bees and several hundred pounds of honey.
Behavior and Conflict
Honey bees sting only when they feel threatened, usually when the colony is disturbed.
- **Structural Damage:** A large, established feral colony in a wall void can cause severe structural damage. The weight of the honeycombs and honey (which can exceed 100 pounds) can collapse ceiling or wall materials.
- **Decay/Secondary Pests:** If the bees are improperly killed, the abandoned honey and wax will melt and leak, soaking into structural materials and attracting secondary pests like rodents, ants, and wax moths.
- **Stinging Risk:** The primary concern is the risk of stings, especially for allergic individuals, if the nest is near human activity or is accidentally disturbed.
Management and Prevention
Management requires humane removal and prevention, **never** lethal killing inside a structure.
- **Professional Removal (Key):** If bees establish a colony in a structure, contact a **live bee removal specialist** or a local beekeeper. They can physically remove the colony and comb and relocate them.
- **Exclusion:** After removal, all remnants of the comb and honey must be scraped out, and the cavity thoroughly cleaned, sealed, and repaired to prevent future swarms or secondary pests.
- **Prevention:** Inspect buildings for potential entry points (1/2 inch or larger) in late winter/early spring and seal them before swarming season begins.
- **Do Not Seal Active Nest:** Never seal the entrance to an active nest; this will force the bees to find an interior path into the living space.
Conservation and Research
Italian Honey Bees are managed as an essential economic and ecological species. Research focuses on combating colony collapse disorder (CCD), improving resistance to mites and diseases, and optimizing their pollination efficiency for high-value agricultural crops.