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The Nordic brown bee was the first honey bee subspecies to colonize the northern Europe, which is why it has adapted to northern environments in many ways. The Nordic brown bee was also the first subspecies to be farmed for honey production in these areas. Now, this unique bee’s existence is threatened in its native habitat. They are, in fact, only kept in a few places in the whole of Europe. The remaining populations of this unique bee can only be conserved with successful practical beekeeping. This is why we need more beekeepers who are interested in and able to keep ''Apis mellifera mellifera'' bees.  
The Nordic brown bee (''Apis mellifera mellifera'') was the first honey bee subspecies{{#info: a biological classification category ranking below a species; a genetically distinct population which can reproduce with populations of the same species where they overlap geographically | <icon> }}  to colonize northern Europe, which is why it has adapted to northern environments in many ways. The Nordic brown bee was also the first subspecies to be farmed for honey production in these areas. Now, this unique bee’s existence is threatened in its native habitat. The remaining populations of this unique bee can only be conserved with successful practical beekeeping. This is why we need more beekeepers who are interested in and able to keep ''Apis mellifera mellifera'' bees.  


Because of long-term adaptation to the Nordic environment, the Nordic brown bee also has some special features in its physiology, behavior, and in its responses to the environment. All this must be taken into account during the management and handling of the bee colony. This wiki is designed to help you find practical and suitable management techniques for keeping Nordic brown bees.
[[File:Ammmap.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Approximate natural distribution of Apis mellifera subspecies. The distribution of Apis mellifera mellifera includes The British Isles, Scandinavia and the Baltic countries. Taken from De la Rúa et al. 2009]]


If you’re considering keeping Nordic (''A. m. mellifera'') bees, you don’t have to start with them. You can, by all means, learn the basic skills of beekeeping with other subspecies, like Italian (''A. m. ligustica'') or Craniolan (''A. m.c arnica'') bees, and change your bees to ''A. m. mellifera'' bees later. Please keep in mind though, that this wiki contains information specifically tailored to Brown bees.  
Because of long-term adaptation to the Nordic environment, the Nordic brown bee has some [[Winter to Spring| special features]] in its physiology, behavior, and in its responses to the environment. All this must be taken into account during the set up of the [[Hive construction and bee yard|bee yard and it's hives]] as well as the management and [[Opening and handling the bee colony|handling]] of the bee colony. This wiki is designed to help you find practical and suitable management techniques for keeping Nordic brown bees.


One reason one might want to start with another bee subspecies is that they are more widely found and thus easier to obtain. Furthermore one should find out what type of bees are already found in the vicinity of where one wants to establish a bee yard. [[Crossbreeding]] is a danger and at least uncontrolled hybridization should be avoided.
If you’re considering keeping Nordic (''A. m. mellifera'') bees, please find out what type of bees are already found in the vicinity of where you want to establish a bee yard. [[Cross-breeding]] is a danger when different subspecies are found close to one another and at least uncontrolled hybridization{{#info: a biological process in which two individuals of different taxonomic categories, for example subspecies, interbreed and produce offspring | <icon> }} should be avoided.
 
If you have decided to get ''A. m. mellifera'' bees, you have to find a [[Nordic brown bee breeders | Nordic brown bee breeder]]. Keep in mind that you don’t have to have an entire colony of Nordic bees at first. Instead, you can just get a mated pure ''A. m. mellifera'' queen and replace the queen in an existing colony with that queen. The new queen will then produce new offspring of her own subspecies in a couple of months, and the whole colony will gradually turn into Nordic brown bees. Sometimes, however, it is difficult to introduce an ''A. m. mellifera'' queen to a different subspecies’ colony. For some advice on this issue, check [[here]].

Latest revision as of 14:17, 2 November 2016

The Nordic brown bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) was the first honey bee subspeciesa biological classification category ranking below a species; a genetically distinct population which can reproduce with populations of the same species where they overlap geographically to colonize northern Europe, which is why it has adapted to northern environments in many ways. The Nordic brown bee was also the first subspecies to be farmed for honey production in these areas. Now, this unique bee’s existence is threatened in its native habitat. The remaining populations of this unique bee can only be conserved with successful practical beekeeping. This is why we need more beekeepers who are interested in and able to keep Apis mellifera mellifera bees.

Approximate natural distribution of Apis mellifera subspecies. The distribution of Apis mellifera mellifera includes The British Isles, Scandinavia and the Baltic countries. Taken from De la Rúa et al. 2009

Because of long-term adaptation to the Nordic environment, the Nordic brown bee has some special features in its physiology, behavior, and in its responses to the environment. All this must be taken into account during the set up of the bee yard and it's hives as well as the management and handling of the bee colony. This wiki is designed to help you find practical and suitable management techniques for keeping Nordic brown bees.

If you’re considering keeping Nordic (A. m. mellifera) bees, please find out what type of bees are already found in the vicinity of where you want to establish a bee yard. Cross-breeding is a danger when different subspecies are found close to one another and at least uncontrolled hybridizationa biological process in which two individuals of different taxonomic categories, for example subspecies, interbreed and produce offspring should be avoided.

If you have decided to get A. m. mellifera bees, you have to find a Nordic brown bee breeder. Keep in mind that you don’t have to have an entire colony of Nordic bees at first. Instead, you can just get a mated pure A. m. mellifera queen and replace the queen in an existing colony with that queen. The new queen will then produce new offspring of her own subspecies in a couple of months, and the whole colony will gradually turn into Nordic brown bees. Sometimes, however, it is difficult to introduce an A. m. mellifera queen to a different subspecies’ colony. For some advice on this issue, check here.

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