Apis mellifera mellifera

The honey bee, also known as Apis mellifera mellifera, has lived in our area since the last ice age, which took place approximately 9,000 years ago. For millennia, it has been the main and most important pollinator in the ancient primeval forest ecosystem found in contemporary Poland. However, today, this bee can only be found in a few large forest complexes. It was in the Augustow Primeval Forest where the Augustowska bee line,of race native to Central Europe was distinguished – complete with its original temperament and characteristics, winter hardiness, and suitability / adaptability to local forest flora. Since the 1970s, most of the land in the Augustow Primeval Forest has become a restricted area, dedicated to preserving and revitalising the Augustowska bee. This bee is the dominant race in the Augustow Primeval Forest and is also present in most of our hives, which they have populated naturally. It is one of only a few primary honey bee lines that are native to the area.