Apis mellifera carnica
The Carniolan bee is native to Slovenia and some surrounding regions, locally known by the name “sivka” (tr. The gray bee) which is derived from its significantly different color from the stereotypical yellow honey bee.
It is renowned for its diligence and high yield and highly appreciated amongst beekeepers worldwide as a particularly adaptable bee species. Beekeepers and breeders from all over the world recognize the benefits of the carnica’s natural tendency of keeping small colonies in the winter and exploding in early spring to prepare for the early honey flow.
In its homeland, the Carnica bee is the only bee race allowed to be bred, as it is protected by law as an indigenous Slovenian species. This means we do not import other bee species and we do not breed any other, all with the purpose of maintaining the gene fond of the Carnica bee in the best possible shape for those who are looking for top racial purity in their Carniolan Queens.
At the mating station
WHAT WE OFFER
is supported by the national institutions who monitor our breeding and perform analyses of our Queens’ results.
RACIAL PURITY
is under the microscope. The cubital index of the Carnica bee’s wing is monitored yearly and in all our breeder candidates. This allows us to choose the most perspective ones. Breeders must be free of Nosema spores, which is tested simultaneously with the cubital index.
CALMNESS AND PERFORMANCE
of our Queens are tested by randomly chosen beekeepers in all of Slovenia. They gather our Queens’ results and deliver reports to the national institute for analysis.
GOOD CLEANING INSTINCT
is vital for the colony’s wellbeing. We inspect our bees’ cleaning instinct with a PIN test, thus converging to ever more hygiene sensitive bees within our gene fond.
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