Ligustica Bee
Apis mellifera L.
RISK OF EROSION High
DESCRIPTION Among the honey bees ( Apis mellifera L.), the Apis mellifera ligustica (Spinola, 1806) has been bred since time immemorial in Umbria and along the Apennine ridge. Since its evolution is strictly connected to the differences in climate and grazing present in the various regional and Italian ecosystems, it is possible to state that in Umbria, based on numerous studies carried out in the past, further supported by the scientific study carried out in 1959 by Prof.ssa Marcella Bernadini Battaglini of the University of Perugia, on the biometrics of bee populations reared in Umbria, it emerges that even then the population of Apis mellifera ligustica had the distinctive and homogeneous characteristics of a real local population of the Italian autochthonous subspecies. It is precisely in Umbria, among other things, that there is the first three-dimensional description and illustration of the Ape, by Duke Federico Cesi of Acquasparta (TR) in 1624.
BACKGROUND It was in the early Pleistocene (2 million years ago), that the first bees appeared capable of nesting in cavities so as to adapt to the cold climate, that is the morphometric type cerana-mellifera appeared. The entomologist Ruttner assumed that they first developed in the Himalayas, and then colonized the other continents. What is certain is that only the Apis mellifera species spread to Africa and Europe via the Arabian peninsula. In particular, among the European breeds of honey bees, the Apis mellifera ligustica (Spinola, 1806), has evolved in Italy over thousands of years. Although recognized, also at the legislative level (L. 313/04), as an autochthonous Italian subspecies, from studies conducted in the past, it has a high degree of genetic purity throughout the Apennine belt. Nevertheless, since its evolution is strictly connected to the differences in climate and grazing present in the various regional and Italian ecosystems, it is possible to affirm that in Umbria, as shown by the studies carried out in the past on regional beekeeping (Cesi F., 1624; Monini P., 1902; Monini P., 1908; Pierangeli D., 1907; Vecchi A., 1927), further supported by the scientific study on the biometrics of bee populations reared in Umbria (Bernadini Battaglini M., 1959), it emerges that already then the population of Apis mellifera ligustica presented the distinctive and homogeneous characteristics of a real local population of the native Italian subspecies. It is in Umbria, by the Duke Federico Cesi of Acquasparta (TR), that we have the first three-dimensional description and illustration of the Bee. In fact, the Duke Cesi had been given a gift by Galileo Galilei of a “goggle”, as shown in the correspondence of 23 September 1624 between the latter and the Duke: “[…] I send a goggle to your VE to see the smallest things up close, of which I hope she is to take pleasure and entertain herself not small, as this happens to me. I have contemplated many little animals with infinite admiration: among which the flea is very horrible, the mosquito and the moth they are beautiful. In short, we have to contemplate infinitely the greatness of nature, and how subtly she works, and with what unspeakable diligence […] “ (G. Galilei, Letter to Federico Cesi, in Il correspondence Linceo, Rome, G. Gabrieli, 1996, pp. 942-943) and which led Cesi together with the mathematician Francesco Stelluti to implement the project of the Apiary, a text on the life of bees written by Federico Cesi. The Apiarium is almost a monograph, reduced to the essentials, in synoptic tabular form drawn up by Federico Cesi to accompany the second of the plates as a gift, the Melissographia, a splendid burin engraving by Matthus Greuter who reproduces the observations under the microscope made by Francesco Stelluti. This image, the first example of biological microscopy, depicts the trine of the Barberinian Bees, which shows the insect in three different positions together with the anatomical details of the limbs, the eye, the sting and the mouth apparatus arranged as decorative elements around a cartouche on which it is printed: Urbano VII Pont. Opt. Max. Cum accuratior Melissographia a Lynceorum Academia in Perpetuae Devotionis Symbolum ipso ferretur. The Apiarium consists of four sheets printed on one side only and glued together to form a sort of 1040 x 646 mm poster. In reality, this is a more celebratory than scientific work, where truths blend with legends, theories with experimentation. Descriptive literary passages prevail where Cesi pauses, for example, to recall mythology or legends about bees, which have the fecundity of Venus or the power of Jupiter, or to remember where the best places to breed bees can be found , also referring to Acquasparta where a honey is produced that “… sometimes competes with sugar, both in terms of color, solidity, and finally in terms of use” . Without a doubt, the most scientifically important and absolutely original part of this work is represented by the observations under the microscope made and represented by Stelluti. At that time the only bees present in Umbria could only belong to the subspecies Apis mellifera ligustica. Even from the study conducted, after more than 300 years, by Prof.ssa Anita Vecchi, in 1927, on samples of bees from different regions of Italy, it was in fact found that populations of Apis mellifera ligustica existed in Umbria (Spinola, 1806 ) in genetic purity. A monitoring of the biometric / morphometric characters carried out in 2013-2014 by 3A-PTA in collaboration with the DSA3 of the University of Perugia on samples of bees taken throughout the region has reconfirmed the presence of this subspecies in genetic purity in Umbria.
TYPICAL FARMING AREA Among the honey bees ( Apis mellifera L.), the Apis mellifera ligustica (Spinola, 1806), has been bred since time immemorial in Umbria and along the Apennine ridge.
PRODUCTION ATTITUDES The bees of the ligustica breed are particularly active, docile and with a strong aptitude for brood breeding, thanks also to the high prolificacy of the queen bee. Despite the exceptional amount of brood laid and reared, it is not prone to swarming. The colonies begin to breed brood since the end of winter and maintain an extensive breeding area regardless of the extent of the nectarous and polliniferous flow, until late autumn; brood frames always have a “crescent” of dead stocks (honey and pollen) in the highest part of the same throughout the beekeeping season. Good production attitude also in the face of climate change.
