of Bees Italian Bees Apis mellifera ligustica. This is the most popular bee in North American. These, as all of the commercial bees, are gentle and good producers. They use less propolis than some of the darker bees. They usually have bands on their abdomen of brown to yellow color. Their biggest weakness is that they are prone to rob and drift. Most of these (as all of the queens) are bred and raised in the south, but you can find some northern breeders. Probably the most common race of honeybees in this area. Colonies are usually and winter well. Very good honey producers. Usually gentle and non-aggressive. Swarming instinct is not especially strong. Minimum propolis. Keep a clean hive and are quick to get rid of the wax moth. Queens lay all through the summer, so a amount of stores are used for brood rearing. Italian bees have a strong tendency to rob. Yellow coloring with bands on the abdomen. Caucasian Bees Very gentle bees. Do not swarm excessively. buildup is later in the spring. A good honey producer, not exceptional. Caucasians produce and use a good deal of propolis. Brown in color. Carniolan Bees A very gentle race of bees. Probably the best wintering bees. Little use of propolis. Builds up very rapidly in the spring. Summer brood rearing depends on pollen and nectar flow. Usually not inclined to rob. These bees tend to swarm more. Probably due to rapid spring build up. Not as productive as Italians. Buckfast Bees Developed by brother Adam at Buckfast Devon, England. Very rapid spring build up.
of Bees Italian Bees Apis mellifera ligustica. This is the most popular bee in North American. These, as all of the commercial bees, are gentle and good producers. They use less propolis than some of the darker bees. They usually have bands on their abdomen of brown to yellow color. Their biggest weakness is that they are prone to rob and drift. Most of these (as all of the queens) are bred and raised in the south, but you can find some northern breeders. Probably the most common race of honeybees in this area. Colonies are usually and winter well. Very good honey producers. Usually gentle and non-aggressive. Swarming instinct is not especially strong. Minimum propolis. Keep a clean hive and are quick to get rid of the wax moth. Queens lay all through the summer, so a amount of stores are used for brood rearing. Italian bees have a strong tendency to rob. Yellow coloring with bands on the abdomen. Caucasian Bees Very gentle bees. Do not swarm excessively. buildup is later in the spring. A good honey producer, not exceptional. Caucasians produce and use a good deal of propolis. Brown in color. Carniolan Bees A very gentle race of bees. Probably the best wintering bees. Little use of propolis. Builds up very rapidly in the spring. Summer brood rearing depends on pollen and nectar flow. Usually not inclined to rob. These bees tend to swarm more. Probably due to rapid spring build up. Not as productive as Italians. Buckfast Bees Developed by brother Adam at Buckfast Devon, England. Very rapid spring build up.
Races_of_Bees.docx