Carnicayy
Apis mellifera carnica
The species known in Switzerland as the Carnica bee is also called the Carniolan bee, Carniolan bee, Lower Austrian bee, Banat bee, Carpathian bee, or Karst bee. It is a naturally occurring subspecies of the western honey bee.
It is the northernmost representative of the Balkan populations and is native (originally) only to the regions south of the Alps. In the years after World War II, it spread throughout the German-speaking region, almost completely displacing the dark bee, native to the north of the Alps . The reasons for this were its larger colony size and the resulting higher honey yield.
Because the Carinthian bee is influenced by the southeastern Alpine climate, it copes well with hot summers and cold winters. The humidity and instability of the maritime climate, however, pose problems for it, which is why it is rarely found in England, France, and Scandinavia. The Carinthian bee is docile, but unlike some other subspecies of Apis mellifera, it has a strong swarming instinct.
According to publications by the Carnica breeder Hans Peschetz, there was a “mixed bee breed” in Carinthia and it was only from 1929 onwards that the Carnica (Glockner strain) from the foot of the Großglockner was bred and propagated in Carinthia.
Features
According to Friedrich Ruttner, the essential characteristics of the Carinthian bee are: (for Alpine Carnica breeding colonies)
- Shape:
- medium-sized
- slim
- long body appendages
- Armor color of the abdomen of the workers:
- dark, sometimes leather-brown corners and 1 ring (not a bastard trait)
In summary, Ruttner presents the characteristics of a Carnica colony worthy of breeding as follows: Overall appearance: Grey, gentle, calm.
Text source: Wikipedia
Image source: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/deed.de
aessrvs