[Baxter]

I've taken some pictures of black honeybees, that have showed up at my feeders
Is this only an incidence of melanism, or evidence of black bee colonies. I'm keeping italians, and an italian split with a cordovan queen.

[attachment=5:2d5l47i9]002.JPG[/attachment:2d5l47i9]
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[attachment=4:2d5l47i9]033.JPG[/attachment:2d5l47i9][attachment=2:2d5l47i9]024.JPG[/attachment:2d5l47i9][attachment=1:2d5l47i9]023.JPG[/attachment:2d5l47i9][attachment=0:2d5l47i9]012.JPG[/attachment:2d5l47i9]

 

[Iddee]

Looks like melanism from age, to me. The loss of hair is what gives it away.

 

[tecumseh]

what Iddee said.