How to choose bees for your beekeeping farm
Have you decided to become a beekeeper? Here are some tips
Becoming a beekeeper is not easy. If you have decided to take this path, a long way awaits you. For the success of the breeding, it is advisable to be adequately informed about the periods in which to start with the activity, the bees to choose and many other determining factors.
The first prerogative is to find the right place to locate the apiary. We recommend that you always prefer natural places, as far as possible from sources of pollution. A favorable positioning will have a decisive impact on the productivity of bees .
But how do you choose bees for your farm ? In regards to this, we wanted to talk to you about which species of bees are preferred by beekeepers and what factors to consider before buying swarms.
Italian bee or bee of ligustica breed
One of the first evaluations to make when starting beekeeping is the choice of the type of bee . In Italy we are fortunate to have the Ligustica species available. It is a breed much loved by beekeepers as it possesses sought-after characteristics.
The ligustica bee is a subspecies of the honey bee ( Apis Mellifera ). Defined as Italian bee , the ligustica species is endowed with excellent productivity and strong resistance to diseases.
Ligustices are very industrious and docile bees. These characteristics make them perfect for farms. They are very versatile, resistant and strong bees with production rates that go beyond the average.
It is possible to distinguish a ligustica bee based on some physical characteristics. The worker bees have light yellow segments of the abdomen. Even the hair on the body is very close to yellow.
The ligustica queen bee on the other hand has golden or coppery reflections that distinguish it from foraging bees or in any case from the rest of the swarm.
In Italy, although predominant, there is not only the ligustica subspecies but also other types of bees considered equally productive such as the Buckfast species. In the case of Buckfast bees it is a hybrid type, also in this case very resistant to temperatures and diseases.
Purchase artificial swarms or bee cores
After selecting the ideal place for beekeeping and purchasing all the necessary pistica equipment , you will need to purchase the swarms.
In this regard, we always recommend that you rely on professionals in the sector who are able to provide you with a health certificate on the health status of bees . Means of transport are also important.
Transporting bees greatly affects the productivity of your swarm. Make sure that the cores are only moved by professional means that ensure the bees arrive at your farm in full force.
Regarding this you can rely on Apicoltura Laterza. If you are interested in the purchase of bee cores on 5 frames , you can do it directly online by accessing the appropriate section of our website.
We have been a leader in the production of bee cores for 20 years. We have been producing packs and cores of bees for over 20 years and we use the best equipment for disease control, we do not use antibiotics. The cores we supply are ready for production, with anti-varroa treatment already done and perfectly healthy.
Swarming tendency: an important element
There are about 20,000 species of bees. However, farm bees must have specific requirements that make the beekeeper's job more profitable.
The swarming tendency is an element to be taken into consideration in a relevant way. Swarming phases must always be monitored as this process affects the presence of individuals in the colonies.
All hives have a certain tendency to swarm but each hive has different inclinations and behaviors. For this reason, the breeders who produce and sell bees apply a careful selection process.
The selected bees are chosen according to a well-defined genetic profile that passes on all the best characteristics to future generations. An optimized genetic profile, for example, guarantees the bees sought-after qualities such as productivity, docility and above all low tendency to swarm .
Place the hives and place the hives
Positioning the hives correctly is very important. Proper positioning of the apiary will allow your bees to enjoy health and strength.
We have repeatedly specified that the entrance to the hives must face south or south-east. The hives with the entrance well exposed to the sun, in fact, have an advantage over the others, as the bees wake up earlier and immediately begin to gather on the flowers to collect nectar.
Buy queen bees, cores and bee packs online
Are you a beekeeper? If you are interested in the purchase of queen bees , cores or packs of bees, choose Apicoltura Laterza! We have been involved in the production and sale of selected Italian bees for over 20 years.
You will be able to buy virgin and fertile queen bees of the Ligustica breed or queen bees of the Buckfast breed .
We ship throughout Italy and throughout Europe!
Do you want to buy? Discover the real-time availability of our bees and buy in a few clicks!
