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Dream house
"When a colony of bees gets too big for the nest, some have to move. The queen then flies out together with about half of the bees. They choose together a suitable tree cavity for a new nest."
Ontdek in het echtHabitat:
Netherlands and Belgium
Food:
nectar and pollen of flowers
Length:
2 to 3 cm
Eggs:
queen lays about 1,200 eggs per day
About the black bee
The black bee is the only honey bee that occurs naturally in the Netherlands. For thousands of years this species of bee lived in our country, perfectly adapted to our climate. Unfortunately, the black bee disappeared from the wild as beekeepers brought in other bee species from abroad. Nevertheless, the black bee has many advantages: they can cope better with diseases and feel at home in the Dutch weather. Like other bees, black bees are indispensable to nature. They ensure the pollination of plants and flowers, which leads to the growth of fruits as well as greater biodiversity.
Habitat and threats
The black bee is the only native honey bee species of the Netherlands and Belgium. For thousands of years this bee has lived in our landscape, from dunes to heathlands and deciduous forests. It is well adapted to the temperate, sometimes wet climate and can cope better with the diseases occurring here than many imported species.
Yet the black bee largely disappeared from the wild. This was because beekeepers had been bringing in other bee species from abroad since the 19th century. These bees crossed with the black bee, almost losing its genetically unique traits. In the wild, the black bee has been declared extinct in the Netherlands, although conservationists have recently been trying to bring her back.
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The black bee at AquaZoo
At AquaZoo you will find a hive with a colony of black bees. This species is the only native honey bee of the Netherlands and has been here for thousands of years. Unfortunately, the black bee has almost disappeared in the wild. Black bees are well adapted to the Dutch climate and are better able to deal with diseases that occur here. They play an important role in nature: while searching for nectar and pollen, they provide pollination for many native plants. At AquaZoo, we offer the black bee a safe haven. Together with the Wildlife Foundation and Zwartebij.org, we are committed to the preservation and return of this valuable species in the Netherlands.