Researchers are still trying to specify the differences between wild and managed honey bees, but the answer is not easy. Honey bees are not fully domesticated, and there are no clear genetic or behavioral traits that clearly separate wild colonies from those managed by beekeepers. In Europe, where wild populations are considered endangered, scientists define wild bees from an ecological perspective: they are colonies that live without human management and are able to sustain themselves over time.

A recent U.S. study has pointed to another possible difference: the microbiome composition. Research conducted at the Welder Wildlife Refuge in South Texas compared bees unmanaged for at least 30 years with bees raised by beekeepers. The study found significant differences in the microbial communities in their digestive systems. Managed colonies showed markers of antibiotic resistance, especially to tetracyclines, likely linked to common beekeeping practices.

Further studies in other parts of the world, where different beekeeping methods are practiced, could help researchers better understand whether and how these differences can be used to distinguish wild populations from managed ones, and whether they may play a role in the health and well-being of bee colonies.

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