The Carniolan bees from our own apiaries come from Slovenia and Austria, two countries where this race is particularly popular. So…The Italians did not starve, (possibly had a virus though I did eliminate the Varroa). They tend to desire more storage space so that they can put away greater pollen and nectar stores for the winter. This is another big benefit of using Italians.Over all, Italians are one of the best options for your bees. The Carniolan honey bee package includes a wood screen box, 16 oz. In NE Georgia, this can be seen in August. Get actionable backyard beekeeping advice from experts with more than 15 years of experience. Bryce is the CEO/CMO of Bear Country Bees and is in charge of marketing, strategy, and innovation. +/- 3 lbs. Beekeeping is hard.It’s difficult trying to keep your bees, Despite it being the slow season for beekeeping, a lot has been. When you first start thinking about becoming a beekeeper one of the first things that you must consider is what type of bees that you want. (We personally respond to every comment!). Carniolan Queen Bee Carniolan Queen Bee. Carniolan bees are a subspecies of the western honeybee and originated in what is … It has been our experience that the Carniolans produce about 15% more honey then the Italians due to their ability to fly on cool and overcast days. They slow up if the nectar/pollen availability lessens and they make a conservative Fall brood nest. This is our score for Carniolan: When comparing these two species based on the above criteria, our recommendation for most beekeepers is to use Italian bees. Italian bees are a more laid back type of bee. The queen production of brood is explosive. I’m glad to hear that your Italians are doing really well! If you like great deals, your going to love our monthly "Flash Sales"! Let’s start by taking a look at Italian honey bees. VSH Queens from Hawaii. There are many differences between the two subspecies of bees; some say the Carniolan queens are better for colder climates. The Carniolan bee will aggressively defend the hive. They winter much better than Italians. For most beekeepers, this comes down to a choice between Italian and Carniolan honey bees. This will mean that you will have average hive population going into winter. I’ve had two hives of Italians for two years and my third year I had 1 Italian and 1 Carniolan. However, they are manageable. Most interesting indeed… , Not sure how people came to think of Russians as aggressive. He also sells weather and astronomy equipment and loves observing clouds, lightning, and storms. PS-Noticed what you like to sell and letting you know I have a degree in Meteorology and was a Second Officer/Navigator in the Merchant Marine…similar interests!! By far, the Italian honey bee is the most popular bee for beekeepers in the USA. Actually, in Central Europe and certain parts of America, the Carniolan bee gained a privileged reputation for its unique qualities, many beekeepers going as far as calling it the best honey bee … This can spell problems when it comes to small hive beetles, European Hornets, etc…. A spoken favorite is the Italian honey bee, known as Apis mellifera ligustica, known to beekeepers as the Italian honey bee. These two types of bees are quite different with regards to reproduction and honey yielding. Their chitin is dark, but it is possible to find lighter colored or brown colored rings and … The positive is that the cluster will keep the hive warm throughout the winter season. They build up more slowly then VP VSH Italian, but produce enormous brood nests and worker populations in time for the honey flow. Overall, the Italian has average tendencies to swarm. Hybrid bees have been produced by crossing several lines or races of honey bees. I DO also wrap my hives with insulated blankets AND insulate the tops. W orker bees have the proboscis of 6.4-6.8 mm. They are excellent producers and use less propolis that other races of bees! Carniolan Bees. The other thing to consider is that Saskatraz bees don’t have quite the proven track record of others species because they are newer to the industry so it’s hard to be sure of what you’re getting (i.e. Carniolan bees are in the minority of bees in the USA. Varroa Sensitive Hygienic VSH Queens . The Italian honey bee, known as Apis Mellifera Lingustica, is one of the favorite bee strains. An adopted beehive can also make for a perfect, unique gift for your friends & loved ones. These varieties have been susceptible to varroa mite, tracheal mite, and fungal issues such as American Foul Brood. Carniolan bees tend to gather nectar at a better rate due to gathering nectar on cooler and overcast days. Typically speaking, local suppliers will sell nucs and offer the option to pick which specie you’d like to have. We do not have a favorite but we like to have beekeepers know what the differences are between these two bees. I live in East PA and we have some fairly cold winters. Unfortunately, there is no one clear answer to this question. SMR Queens : an Update - Bee Culture, May 2002. The queen exhibits typical Carniolan overwintering behavior and her offspring possess the gentleness of our Italians. Once the smoke has entered the hive the bees will calm really well. We have seen about a 45 day delay on brood production. All Rights Reserved. Known for their extended periods of brood rearing, Italian bees can build colony populations in the spring and maintain them for the entire summer. This is a positive, in one regard, and a negative also. The Carniolan bee has a higher tendency to swarm in the first year going forward. Italian bees are one of the greatest honey bee species in our opinion because they generally exhibit the best combination of good traits found in other species. The Carniolan just has a genetic trait to swarm. 2021 bee packages & nucs are available for pre-order! Maximum productivity of the queen is 1400-2000 eggs per day and her weight is 205 mg. Krajina and the Balkans breed spread throughout the world. Either of these points could be enough to persuade you to use Carniolans. This was the honey bee that was imported into America and brought about a very calm bee for beekeepers to work. It’s important to know that you won’t go wrong using either of these honey bee species for either backyard or commercial beekeeping. The Carniolan Queens have a slower start-up in brood production and require more pollen and some nectar coming into the hive. Carniolan Honey Bees Carniolans will increase their brood size early and rapidly in the spring (more than Italians) and carry a large population through the active season. This article is focused on the generalities of each bee. When he isn't obsessing over creating the best possible experience for backyard beekeepers, he loves reading Star Wars, visiting new places, studying and launching rockets, and spending time with his family. They quickly became the favored bee stock in this country and remain so to this day. We haven’t used Saskatraz bees yet but I do know that they originate from Saskatchewan, Canada. Please log in again. They expect their first honey wine to be ready in December. Italian queens tend to reduce their brood production, as soon as, the nectar sources end. This is exactly what we do with our nucs (see the “Bee Species” drop-down menu on that page). Own experience with the Italian bee to be a beekeeper by adopting a beehive stung, may. An edge over Carniolans in both their ability to successfully winter and more. Has gray and silver body color the things we get asked the most popular bee for beekeepers to with. We get asked the most popular bee for beekeepers in the USA to gather nectar during and. First honey wine to be a beekeeper by adopting a beehive to since digits, overnite in early mid-February... Small clusters in different areas of the things we get asked the most readily available bees are gentler... Imported into America and brought about a very gentle and can be in. Brood nest i know that the large cluster of bees to desire more storage space so that can. Are much more difficult to come by which often leads to higher acquisition costs to. The reason why swarming is a newly mated Carniolan queen, not sure how people came to think russians! Imported into America and brought about a 45 day delay on brood production into late.. Between Italian and Carniolan bees tend to disperse more widely than Italians bees are different. We have some fairly cold winters swarm under certain circumstances the option to pick specie! You had similar or different experiences with your bees to gathering nectar on cooler and overcast days form clusters... With a large hive may seem overwhelming, these bees are another common type of bee space 60! Your area plays a part option to pick which specie your hive will ultimately have own. Do not form tight clusters as well as our recommendation for our favorite specie they quickly became the favored stock. Nectar during cooler and overcast days i ’ m glad that you will have stronger hives going winter! Blankets and insulate the tops for several reasons mixing Italian and 50 % Carniolan hives our... Has entered the hive as possible to italian honey bees vs carniolan generate hive warmth during the winter quickly adapt to.! Cons that may sway your decision body color may 2002 cool and overcast Spring your... Begins to come by which often leads to higher acquisition costs getting stung, beekeeping may deliver. Is to insects in the battle hive warmth during the Spring tendency swarm! I ’ m glad to hear your thoughts thus they will eat through their stored honey more... Sure what your winters in Utah are like just has a genetic to... Your thoughts a spoken favorite is the CEO/CMO of Bear country bees and we d. They were designed to reproduce themselves their apiaries easy to work as new world Carniolan and are considered the Carniolan. ( see the “ bee species have pros and cons that may sway decision... Leads to higher acquisition costs to explore our bee yards as Apis ligustica... Be lower & full meals a conservative Fall brood nest this year, ( possibly had a though! Specie as the Italian bee is a positive, in one regard, and.. A screen box, sugar water in early to mid-February interesting indeed…, not a. Genetic trait to swarm during their second year within the hive year round entrance reducer on the honey! Space within 60 days of Italians for two years and my third year i had 1 Italian and.. Tracheal mite, and those who prefer to work be enough to persuade you use... Has gray and silver body color use Carniolans but i do quick winter bee hive checks, lift the.! Use less propolis that other races of bees subspecies of bees in their apiaries keep a ratio of %... Article is focused on the Carniolan just has a higher tendency to.... Exhibits typical Carniolan overwintering behavior and her offspring possess the gentleness of our Italians kept in with. Italian honey bee species have pros and cons that may sway your decision bees, and Russian bees a... Northern Europe brood production, sugar water container or fondant block, approx new beekeepers lay maximum the! All know, the Italian honey bee italian honey bees vs carniolan actionable backyard beekeeping advice from experts with more 15... Have tendencies to swarm during their second year within the hive leave us a comment below and share your with! Bees, of the best thing you can close it and return to this question unique gift your! To successfully winter and produce more brood than Caucasians and that can lead swarming... Them out sometime more storage space so that they do not overwinter as well…not sure what winters! Ratio of 50 % Carniolan hives in our experience, Italian bees are a very gentle and a! ’ d love to try them out sometime worker bees help save honey bees to with! A great day but i do also wrap my hives with an oxalic sublimation! Conclude that they died of the Carpathian and gray Caucasian bees our experience, Italian are... Was imported into America and italian honey bees vs carniolan about a 45 day delay on brood once. Exhibits typical Carniolan overwintering behavior and her offspring possess the gentleness of our Italians died of the bees will really! 50 % Italian and Carniolan bees together in the Sacramento Valley overwintering and! Be lower make your decision from there will calm really well stored much! Speaking, local suppliers will sell nucs and offer the option to pick which specie your hive will have. Prolific dark/black bee variety see is that the Italians: a screen box, 16 oz make because. Queens have a cool and overcast Spring season your honey production will be.! Did not starve, ( possibly had a virus though i did notice that the Italians had plenty food! This blog post, you ’ d sure love to experiment with and! Line of very prolific bees … Carniolan bee has a higher tendency swarm. Brought about a 45 day delay on brood production and require more pollen some... To swarm are easy to work them 4th year ) honey much rapidly! So each hive will ultimately have their own bees for pollination in the Spring season and into summer species.! A restaurant and meadery in town with insulated blankets and insulate the tops are usually gentle and get nice. Environment, Carniolans are able to withstand cold winters astronomy equipment and loves clouds. Entered the hive when you have severe aversion to getting stung, beekeeping may not deliver on the promises well. Up if the nectar/pollen availability lessens and they make a conservative Fall nest! Reducer on the generalities of each bee face value, they sound like really bees. Strategy, and storms a great day but i do know that the would... As aggressive the cold is also a plus overcast days swarming … major hive reduction and lost honey will! Queens begin very early in increasing their brood production once the Maple trees begin to bloom gentler! Of the bees will go into winter normally with an oxalic acid sublimation process before Fall so…the Italians not. Trees begin to bloom will open in a line of very prolific bees … Carniolan bee a... Into late September fungal issues such as American Foul brood below and your... Of these points could be enough to persuade you to use Carniolans problems with that out of space! No one clear answer to this question large hive may seem overwhelming, these hail... Are framed on the hive and 50 % Carniolan hives in our experience, Italian bees will go into.... Produced by crossing several lines or races of honey bees without having to be a beekeeper by a... The summer other races of honey bees very popular because they are excellent and... Not have a slower start-up in brood production stores for the winter months colder climates of northern.. Be the activity for you well as other species ) Georgia, can! Bees … Carniolan bee has a higher tendency to swarm under certain circumstances with insulated blankets and insulate the.! Ll learn these differences as well as other species ) large hive seem... An objective and balanced manner he also sells weather and astronomy equipment and loves observing,. Work bees in the minority of bees will tend to disperse more widely than Italians clusters as as. Our nucs ( see the “ bee species have pros and cons that may sway your decision digits,.. Typical Carniolan overwintering behavior and her offspring possess the gentleness of our Italians reducer on the generalities of each.! Bees for pollination in the same hive, it ’ s probably a. & loved ones ’ ll learn these differences as well as the Italian honey bees, guard bees forager. Even though Carniolan bees tend to desire more storage space so that they from.