Types of Honey Bees: A Complete Guide
TL;DR: Honey bees come in many breeds, each with strengths and challenges. Beekeepers often choose based on temperament, honey production, swarming habits, and climate adaptability.
- Carniolan bees are gentle, cold-hardy, and thrive in spring but swarm easily.
- Italian bees are calm and produce abundant honey, though they consume resources quickly.
- German bees endure harsh winters but are defensive and disease-prone.
- Caucasian bees are gentle and use heavy propolis but build slowly.
- Russian & Buckfast combine productivity with resilience, offering options for diverse climates and beekeeping goals.
Bees are extremely diverse, with over 20,000 unique types of honey bees found worldwide. As many as 4,000 of those honey bee species live here in the United States. These different types of honey bees range from social species that live in large hives to solitary ones living in single nests.
All these honey bee varieties play a critical role as pollinators in ecosystems and agriculture. In fact, a single honey bee colony can pollinate roughly 300 million flowers in a day! Likewise, about 75% of the world’s crops depend on pollinators like bees.
As a beekeeper, understanding different varieties of honey bees is fundamental. This knowledge forms the groundwork for creating a sustainable environment for them… and us!
This guide to types of honey bees aims to shed light on some of these captivating species. Keep reading to learn more about nature's tiny wonders, and potentially bring some pollinators home!
Carniolan Bee
The Carniolan honeybee is extremely popular among beekeepers for several reasons. These bees have a remarkably gentle temperament, making it easier to work with and around their hive.
Carniolan bees also have a remarkable spring buildup. That means they can take advantage of the early spring blooms and create a large, productive population by the time summer comes around.
However, beekeepers who keep Carniolan bees must keep an eye out for swarming. The early population blooms create a higher tendency to swarm in the summer.
Carniolan Bees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Gentle and easy to manage
- Honey Production: Moderate to high, especially with strong spring forage
- Swarming Tendency: High during rapid spring buildup
- Climate Suitability: Very cold-hardy, adaptable to variable weather
- Unique Trait: Exceptional spring population growth
| Bee Tip: Carniolan bees' gentle nature makes them an excellent choice for novice beekeepers. They offer a user-friendly introduction to honeybee care and management. |
Italian Bee
Another beekeeper favorite, the Italian honey bee, has it all. They have a peaceful attitude, fantastic honey production rates, and a lower tendency to swarm.
Many beekeepers have found success with this popular honeybee. However, their longer brood cycles mean they go through resources quickly. This also leads to Italian bees stealing honey from neighboring hives. That can increase the risk of diseases spreading among populations.
Italian Bees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Calm, gentle, and beginner-friendly
- Honey Production: Very high; among the best of all types of honey bees
- Swarming Tendency: Low
- Climate Suitability: Prefers warm climates, less winter-hardy
- Unique Trait: Long brood cycle, leading to higher food consumption
German Bee
The German bee, also referred to as the black bee or German dark bee, is unique with its dark brown or black hair. They have a reputation for being more defensive compared to other honey bee varieties. That trait has made them less popular among beekeepers.
However, these bees are remarkably resilient and well-adapted to surviving long, harsh winters typical of northern climates. On the downside, they are more prone to diseases. Diseases have caused significant damage to their populations over recent decades.
German Bees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Defensive, less suited to beginners
- Honey Production: Moderate
- Swarming Tendency: Low
- Climate Suitability: Excellent for northern, cold climates
- Unique Trait: Very hardy in harsh winters, but more disease-prone
Caucasian Bee
Caucasian bees stand out with their large, gray bodies that are notably hairy and their long tongues. These features are advantageous, enabling the Caucasian bees to access nectar from flowers that other bees cannot reach.
Like their Carniolan and Italian counterparts, Caucasian honey bees are known for their gentle nature. However, their colonies tend to expand more slowly in the spring, leading to lower honey production compared to other species.
Interestingly, Caucasian bees are also characterized by their proclivity to use a large amount of propolis in hive construction. While this trait contributes to their survival, it can pose challenges for beekeepers. It makes extracting honey or performing hive inspections a little more challenging.
Caucasian Bees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Gentle
- Honey Production: Lower compared to Italian bees
- Swarming Tendency: Moderate
- Climate Suitability: Adaptable to cooler climates
- Unique Trait: Heavy use of propolis in hive construction
Russian Bee
Russian bees come from the Primorsky region in Russia. There, they adapted to the harsh climate and the presence of severe honeybee parasites. These hardy bees are known for their exceptional resistance to mites and diseases.
Like other types of honey bees, Russian bees are admired for their gentle behavior and lower tendency to swarm. However, they have a unique trait; they adjust their worker population based on the availability of pollen and nectar. This means fewer mouths to feed during scarcity. The result is less strain on resources, although it can lead to slower colony expansion.
Russian Bees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Gentle
- Honey Production: High, but variable with food availability
- Swarming Tendency: Low to moderate
- Climate Suitability: Cold-hardy, suited for harsh climates
- Unique Trait: Adjust colony size to match resources, reducing strain
Buckfast Bee
Bred by Brother Adam at Buckfast Abbey in the United Kingdom, the Buckfast bee is a mix of several bee races. Its genetic diversity makes it known for a wide range of desirable traits. These include its resistance to diseases, prolific honey production, and low swelling tendency.
However, unlike other species, Buckfast bees require more management to prevent aggression. If left unmanaged, the colony may raise more defensive bees, making beekeeping more challenging. Despite this, with proper attention, Buckfast bees can provide a stable and productive hive.
Buckfast Bees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Generally calm but can become defensive without management
- Honey Production: Very high
- Swarming Tendency: Low
- Climate Suitability: Adaptable to various climates
- Unique Trait: Cross-bred for disease resistance and productivity
Apis Dorsata Bee
Apis Dorsata, also known as the giant honey bee, is native to South and Southeast Asia. This species is known for building impressive, exposed single-comb hives, often high up on trees, cliffs, or buildings.
The giant honeybee isn't commonly kept by beekeepers due to its more aggressive nature. Apis Dorsatas also have a tendency to abscond when disturbed. However, its incredible ability to produce substantial amounts of honey is attractive to some. Likewise, its pollinating power in the wild makes it an important species in its native regions.
This species is also critical for its role in maintaining biodiversity within its habitat.
Apis Dorsata Bees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Honey Production: Very high, but not easily harvested by beekeepers
- Swarming Tendency: High. Colonies abscond when disturbed
- Climate Suitability: Tropical and subtropical climates
- Unique Trait: Builds enormous open-comb nests in exposed locations
Saharan Honeybee
The Saharan honeybee is a unique species that can survive in some of the most inhospitable conditions. Native to northern Africa, these bees are incredibly resilient and can tolerate extremely hot and dry climates.
Saharans are not typically maintained by beekeepers due to their aggressive nature. Even so, they are paramount to the survival of flora in their local ecosystems. However, their potential for surviving in harsh conditions does provide valuable insight for scientists. Saharan behavior is key to helping other bee species adapt to changing global climates.
Saharan Honeybees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Honey Production: Low to moderate
- Swarming Tendency: Moderate
- Climate Suitability: Extreme heat and arid environments
- Unique Trait: Exceptional heat tolerance
Apis Mellifera scutellata Bee
This species, also known as the African honeybee or “killer bee,” is native to central and southern Africa. It garnered a fearsome reputation due to its highly defensive behavior and tendency to sting in larger numbers.
Despite this reputation, they are excellent honey producers. They also have a higher resistance to disease and parasites compared to their counterparts from other regions. These traits potentially make them an important resource for future crossbreeding efforts to enhance honeybee resistance to diseases.
Apis Mellifera scutellata Bees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Very defensive
- Honey Production: High
- Swarming Tendency: High
- Climate Suitability: Warm climates of Africa and beyond
- Unique Trait: High disease and parasite resistance
| Quick Fact: African honey bees' high disease resistance makes them a potential game-changer. They may be a key player in securing the future of global bee health. |
Eastern Honeybee
The Eastern honey bee, also known as the Asiatic honey bee, is native to South and Southeast Asia. It's smaller than the more commonly known Western honeybee but is still an efficient pollinator and honey producer.
However, Eastern honey bees have a higher tendency to abscond when a threat is detected. This makes them challenging to keep, but they play a crucial role in pollinating native plants in their natural habitats. Their resilience to local pests also offers room for further study and potential breeding programs.
Eastern Honeybees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Nervous, prone to absconding
- Honey Production: Moderate
- Swarming Tendency: High
- Climate Suitability: Tropical and subtropical Asia
- Unique Trait: Small size and strong resilience to native pests
Golden West Bee
Golden West bees are bred from Italian stock and are popular for their reliability and productivity. Beekeepers appreciate their gentle temperament, making hive inspections smooth and low-stress. These bees also deliver consistent honey yields, making them a solid option for hobbyists and professionals alike.
Golden West bees are also adaptable across a wide range of climates in America. That makes them an appealing choice for beekeepers in different regions. Their balanced traits have made them one of the most dependable honey bee breeds available today.
Golden West Bees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Gentle and easy to handle
- Honey Production: High and consistent
- Swarming Tendency: Moderate
- Climate Suitability: Adaptable across many U.S. regions
- Unique Trait: Carefully bred Italian stock for reliability and performance
Saskatraz Bee
Saskatraz bees were originally developed in Saskatchewan, Canada. The honey bee breed emerged thanks to selective breeding, which improved resilience and productivity. These bees are especially valued for their high honey yields and strong overwintering ability. These Canadian bees are, naturally, particularly suitable for colder climates.
They are also known for better tolerance against mites and diseases compared to many other honey bee varieties. Saskatraz bees have become a favorite among beekeepers looking for a balanced breed.
Saskatraz Bees at a Glance:
- Temperament: Generally gentle but can vary slightly
- Honey Production: Very high; strong for honey yield
- Swarming Tendency: Moderate to low
- Climate Suitability: Excellent overwintering ability, suited for northern climates
- Unique Trait: Selectively bred for mite resistance and colony health
Understanding Honeybee Behavior
A captivating aspect of studying different types of honey bees is appreciating their wide range of behaviors. From their calm or defensive nature to their swarming tendency and their adaptability to climate change, honeybee behavior significantly impacts their survival and productivity.
The following table compares the behaviors of three popular bee species—Italian, Carniolan, and Russian honey bees.
| Honey Bee Species | Temperament | Swarming Tendency | Climate Adaptability |
| Italian Bee | Calm and gentle | Low | Adaptable but prefers warm climate |
| Carniolan Bee | Extremely gentle | High in spring and summer | Very adaptable, especially to cold climates |
| Russian Bee | Generally gentle, adjust behavior based on resource availability | Moderate to low | Exceptionally adaptable to harsh climates |
| Buckfast Bee | Calm and docile | Low | Exceptional wintering ability |
Frequently Asked Questions About Honey Bee Species
What are the best honey bee breeds for beginners?
Italian and Carniolan honey bees are the most popular breeds for new beekeepers. Italians are gentle and produce lots of honey. Carniolans are easy to manage and adapt well to different climates. Both are excellent first choices.
How do Italian honey bees compare to Carniolan honey bees?
Italian bees are known for high honey production and steady colony growth. Carniolan bees are prized for their gentle temperament and ability to thrive in colder weather. Both are among the most reliable honey bee species for beekeeping.
Why do beekeepers choose Russian honey bees?
Russian honey bees are popular because they naturally resist mites and adjust their colony size based on available food. This makes them a hardy honey bee variety for beekeepers in challenging climates.
Which honey bee varieties are most cold-hardy?
Carniolan and Russian honey bees are among the best suited for colder climates. Carniolans build up quickly in spring, while Russians adjust to harsh environments and conserve resources through the winter.
Do different types of honey bees produce different amounts of honey?
Yes. Italian bees are known for producing large amounts of honey, while Carniolan bees also yield good harvests. Russian bees produce a steady supply but prioritize colony survival. Each honey bee species offers unique strengths for beekeepers.
Brings These Honey Bee Varieties Home
Each of the different honey bee species has its pros and cons. Before you start your beekeeping journey, it’s important to know which honey bee breeds are right for you and your hives. Once you’ve made your decision, you can pick up your new bees, your hive box, and other essential supplies here at Mann Lake.
Choosing your bees just got easier. Browse our honey bees and bring your favorite type home.