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The Different Types of HONEY BEES Honey bees, like all other living things, vary among themselves in traits such as temperament, disease resistance, and productivity. The environ- ment has a large effect on differences among bee colonies (for example, plants in different areas yield different honey crops), but the genetic makeup of a colony can also impact the characteristics that define a particular group. Beekeepers have long known that different genetic stocks have distinctive characteristics, so they have utilized different strains to suit their particular purpose, whether it be pollination, a honey crop, or bee production. What is a bee stock? Wide variation exists within stocks The term “stock” is defined as a loose as well as among them. Any generali- combination of traits that characterize a ties about a particular stock should be particular group of bees. Such groups can treated with caution, since there are be divided by species, race, region, popu- always exceptions to the rule. None- lation, or breeding line in a commercial theless, the long and vast experience operation. Many of the current “stocks” of beekeepers allows some oversimpli- in the United States can be grouped at fications to be made in order to better one or more of these levels, so the term understand the different types of bees will be used interchangeably, depending available. The following is a brief on the particular strain of bees in ques- overview of some of the more com- tion. mon commercially available honey bee stocks in the U.S. The Russian bee The Carniolan bee The Caucasian bee The Italian bee The German bee The Italian bee The German bee The Carniolan bee The Caucasian bee The Buckfast bee The Russian bee Italian honey bees, of the subspecies Honey bees are not native to the The subspecies A. m. carnica, from A. m. caucasica is a race of honey In the 1920s, honey bee colonies in the One of the newer bee stocks in the Apis mellifera ligustica, were brought New World, although North America middle Europe, also has been a fa- bees native to the foothills of the Ural British Isles were devastated by aca- U.S. was imported from far-eastern to the U.S. in 1859. They quickly has about 4,000 native species of vored bee stock in the U.S. for several mountains near the Caspian Sea in rine disease, which now is suspected Russia by the U.S. Department of became the favored bee stock in this bees. Honey bees were brought to reasons. First, their explosive spring eastern Europe. This stock was once to have been the endoparasitic tracheal Agriculture’s Honey Bee Breeding, country and remain so to this day. America in the 17th century by the buildup enables this race to grow rap- popular in the U.S., but it has declined mite Acarapis woodi. Brother Adams, Genetics, and Physiology Labora- Known for their extended periods of early European settlers. These bees idly in population and take advantage in regard over the last few decades. Its a monk at Buckfast Abby in Devon, tory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The brood rearing, Italian bees can build were most likely of the subspecies A. of blooms that occur much earlier in most notable characteristic is its very England, was charged with creating researchers’ logic was that these bees colony populations in the spring and m. mellifera, otherwise known as the the spring, compared to other stocks. long tongue, which enables the bees a bee stock that could withstand this from the Primorski region on the Sea maintain them for the entire summer. German or “black” bee. This stock is Second, they are extremely docile to forage for nectar from flowers that deadly disease. He traveled the world of Japan, have coexisted for the last They are less defensive and less prone very dark in color and tends to be very and can be worked with little smoke other bee stocks may not have ac- interviewing beekeepers and learn- 150 years with the devastating ecto- to disease than their German coun- defensive, making bee management and protective clothing. Third, they cess to. They tend to be a moderately ing about different bee strains, and he parasite Varroa destructor, a mite that terparts, and they are excellent honey more difficult. One of the German are much less prone to robbing other colored bee and, like the Carniolans, created a stock of bees, largely from is responsible for severe colony losses producers. They also are very lightly bees’ more favorable characteristics colonies of honey, lowering disease are extremely docile. However, their the Italian race, that could thrive in around the globe, and they might colored, ranging from a light leather is that they are a hardy strain, able to transmission among colonies. Finally, slow spring buildup keeps them from the cold wet conditions of the Brit- thrive in the U.S. The USDA tested hue to an almost lemon yellow, a trait survive long, cold winters in northern they are very good builders of wax generating very large honey crops, and ish Isles, yet produce good honey whether this stock had evolved resis- that is highly coveted by many bee- climates. However, because of their combs, which can be used for prod- they tend to use an excessive amount crops and exhibit good houseclean- tance to varroa and found that it had. keepers for its aesthetic appeal. defensive nature and their susceptibil- ucts ranging from candles, to soaps, to of propolis—the sticky resin substance ing and grooming behavior to reduce Numerous studies have shown that Despite their popularity, Italian ity to many brood diseases (such as cosmetics. sometimes called “bee glue” that is the prevalence of disease. Bees of bees of this strain have fewer than half bees have some drawbacks. First, American and European foulbrood), Because of their rapid buildup, used to seal cracks and joints of bee this stock are moderately defensive. the number of mites that are found in because of their prolonged brood rear- this stock lost favor with beekeepers however, carniolan bees tend to have a structures—making their hives diffi- However, if left unmanaged for one or standard commercial stocks. The quar- ing, they may consume surplus honey well over a century ago. Although the high propensity to swarm (their effort cult to manipulate. two generations, they can be among antine phase of this project has been in the hive if supers (removable upper feral bee population in the U.S. was to relieve overcrowding) and, there- the most fiercely defensive bees of complete since 2000, and bees of this sections where honey is stored) are not once dominated by this strain, newly fore, may leave the beekeeper with any stock. They also are moderate in strain are available commercially. removed immediately after the honey introduced diseases have nearly wiped a very poor honey crop. This stock spring population buildup, preventing Russian bees tend to rear brood flow stops. Second, they are notorious out most wild honey bee colonies, requires continued vigilance to prevent them from taking full advantage of only during times of nectar and pollen kleptoparasites and frequently rob the making the German bee a rare stock at the loss of swarms. early nectar flows. flows, so brood rearing and colony honey stores of weaker or dead neigh- this time. populations tend to fluctuate with the boring colonies. This behavior may environment. They also exhibit good pose problems for Italian beekeepers housecleaning behavior, resulting in who work their colonies during times Table 1. Comparison of bees and their traits. resistance not only to varroa but also of nectar dearth, and it may cause the to the tracheal mite. rapid spread of transmittable diseases Italian German Carniolan Buckfast Caucasian Russian Bees of this stock exhibit some among hives. Color Light Dark Black Medium Dark Gray unusual behaviors compared to other Disease resistance strains. For example, they tend to have Varroa - - - - - + queen cells present in their colonies Tracheal - - - + 0 + almost all the time, whereas most AFB* 0 - + 0 0 0 other stocks rear queens only during EFB** 0 0 0 0 0 0 times of swarming or queen replace- Other 0 0 + + - 0 ment. Russian bees also perform better Gentleness Moderate Low High Low-Mod High Low-Mod Spring buildup Good Low Very good Low Very low OK when not in the presence of other bee Over-wintering Good Very good Good Good OK Very good strains; research has shown that cross- ability contamination from susceptible stocks Excess swarming OK OK High Low Low OK can lessen the varroa resistance of Honey processing Very good OK Good Good Low OK these bees. Propolis Low OK Low Low High OK Other traits Heavy Short tongue, Low robbing, Supersedure Long Brood robbing nice white good comb queens tongue rearing cappings builders produce affected defensive by flow, colonies queen cells always * AFB = American foulbrood present ** EFB = European foulbrood Other notable stocks Numerous hybrid stocks are also Conclusion Many other honey bee stocks are available commercially: While a tremendous amount of varia- worth noting: * The Midnight bee was developed tion remains within and among the * The Minnesota Hygienic stock has by crossing the Caucasian and different bee stocks, some generalities been selected for its exceptional Carniolan stocks, hoping to main- still can be made. Bee differences can housecleaning ability, significantly tain the extreme gentleness of both be used to advantage by beekeep- reducing the negative effects of strains while removing the exces- ers, depending on what traits interest most brood diseases. sive propolis of the Caucasians and them, so using different stocks can * The SMR stock, referring to “Sup- minimizing the swarming propen- be a powerful tool at the beekeeper’s pression of Mite Reproduction,” sity of the Carniolans.

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