Beekeeping/Honey Bee Races



There are several races of the honeybee. Each of these races has different advantages and disadvantages linked to their original regional background. Each region likely has a differing climate, topography, resources and predators. Because of difference in background, each race of honey bees have evolved slightly in a different manner than their cousins allowing them to better take advantage of their specific situation. Today the Italian Honey Bee is the most commonly kept honey bee in the United States, conversely the  Africanized Honey Bee is the most feared and illegal to keep in many regions. Fitting somewhere between these two extremes include many of the other races and the Feral Honey Bee, though technically not a race in its own, it may be acclimated to the area in which it has been found. The following is a partial listing of the races of honeybee that may be available to a prospective beekeeper, along side is a brief amount of information regarding each race and some common advantages and disadvantages with each.

Africanized Honey Bee
Apis mellifera scutellata The Africanized honey bee, also known as the killer bee. Because of the media attention received, Africanized bees have been given a bad name. This is not to say that they can’t be more dangerous than standard honeybees, their representation has simply been blown out of proportion. There have been several more recent breeding programs that have produced a more gentle form of this race. This gentler form of bee has even become one of the more sought after honeybee races in regions of Brazil.

Buckfast Honey Bee
Apis mellifera: hybrid The Buckfast hybrid was produced by  Brother Adam of the  Buckfast Abbey. Brother Adam crossed a great many races of bees with the British bee in hopes of creating a superior breed. The results are what is now known as the Buckfast Bee.

Carniolan Honey Bee
Apis mellifera carnica

Caucasian Honey Bee
Apis mellifera caucasica

Cordovan Honey Bee
Apis mellifera ? A genetic trait, usually found in the Italian race, cordovans are used mainly for tracking the genetic makeup due to the wide variance in color.

Feral Honey Bee
Apis mellifera ... Feral honey bees consist of escaped swarms and unmanaged colonies.

Western European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera mellifera The Western European Honey Bee, also known as the dark or black bee, was the first honeybee imported to the Americas. This distinctly marked bee is brown and black in color and overwinter well.

Italian Honey Bee
Apis mellifera ligustica Italian bees are the most common stock bee, and likely are the race to be found in packages or as unspecified breeds and queens for sale.

Midnite Honey Bee
Apis mellifera: Hybrid The Midnite hybrid is a combination of both the Caucasian and Carniolan races.

Russian Honey Bee
Apis mellifera: hybrid (A. mellifera caucasica with some Italian and Carniolan.)

Starline Honey Bee
Apis mellifera: hybrid The Starline is an Italian hybrid known for its vigor and strong honey production.

Yugo Honey Bee
Apis mellifera ?