Carniolan honey bee

Carinthian bee ( Apis mellifera carnica )

The Carinthian bee ( Apis mellifera carnica ), also called Carniolan bee, is a naturally formed race ( subspecies ) of the Western honey bee ( Apis mellifera). From beekeepers it is simply called Carniolan.

It is the northernmost representative of the Balkan racial group is in the south only in the regions of the Alps autochthonous (original) home. In the years after the Second World War it was spread throughout the German-speaking world and has thereby the north of the Alps -based Dark European Bee almost completely displaced. Reasons were the larger colony strength and thus to reach higher honey yield.

Since the Carinthian bee was marked by the south-eastern Alps climate, it copes well with hot summers and cold winters. The moisture and volatile nature of the maritime climate caused her difficulties, however, which is why it is not widely used in England, France and Scandinavia. The Carinthian bee is docile, but, unlike some other races increased swarming.

The publications of the Carinthian Carniolan breeder Hans Peschetz (author of The Way the best honey bee and Beginner to Master: The Carniolan book ) shows, however, that it is a " bee - racial mish-mash " was in Carinthia and in 1929 the Carniolan (strain Glockner ) from the foot of the Grossglockner was grown and propagated in Carinthia. There are currently in Carinthia bees with a relatively high Carniolan share, but only about 50 Carniolan breeder.

In the Austrian provinces of Vienna, Lower Austria and Carinthia is basically only the rearing or cultivation of Carinthian bees with all their associated strains and lines allowed ( the attitude of others, but only pure-bred bees need a permit there ).

Honey

The honey bee of Carinthia was included in the register of traditional food and is name-giving as Rosental Rosental Carniolan Bien for the gourmet region.