The breeds of bees in Italy and in the world
There are many types of bees and there are different breeds all over the world. Four species belong to the genus Apis: Apis cerana, Apis florea, Apis dorsata and Apis mellifera. In Italy the main breeds of bees are: the Buckfast, the Ligustica, the Carnica and the Cordovan. Buckfast bees are a hybrid breed that dates back to the early 20th century. These are energetic bees and quite resistant to various diseases, which makes them a good option for novice breeders and beekeepers. The Ligustica are characterized by a yellow color and have a mild but active character: they are great producers of honey, ideal for breeding in a warm or Mediterranean environment. The Carnic breed is more aggressive than the previous ones but offers large quantities of honey with very few symptoms of disease. The Cordovan is instead originally from Argentina and has a less aggressive character than other breeds, even if it often suffers during cold periods. In short, there is really an embarrassment of choice among these various types of bees!
The characteristics of Ligurian bees
The Ligustica bees are one of the most widespread Italian breeds, which can be found in many areas of the country. Their main characteristic is a very docile behavior, and not being as aggressive as other breeds. They are generally quite small in size and range in color from gray to dark brown. They are considered excellent honey producers and have an excellent aptitude for pollen production, with the exceptional ability to store different foods during cold periods. Furthermore, they are also very disease resistant and have a high resistance rate to varroa, the most common parasite affecting European bees.
The characteristics of buckfast bees
The buckfast bees are an authentic and ancient breed, originally from England. It is a hardy and extremely productive variety with quite intense flight characteristics. They have great defensive strength against parasites and other species. In addition, they have prolific tendencies and can be raised in substantial numbers without having to resort to frequent pest treatments. Buckfast bees also have excellent honey-gathering characteristics, thanks to their strong aptitude for focusing on a wide variety of blooms. They are famous for being particularly docile and therefore ideal for beginner beekeepers.
Bee breeds present in Italy
The breeds of bees present in Italy are extremely diverse. The main Italian breeds are the carnica, the ligustica, the buckfast. The carnica is a breed famous for being docile and long-lived; it is quite resistant to cold and productive in terms of honey. Ligustica is one of the oldest selected breeds and is famous for its high degree of resistance to diseases and parasites. The buckfast has English origins and is famous for being docile despite its larger size than other species; this breed is also very productive in terms of honey.
Bee breeds present in the rest of the world
Bee breeds present in the rest of the world are very numerous and differ in various characteristics such as resistance to the environment, honey production or aggressiveness. Among the most common in other countries are the Apis Cerana or Apis Dorsata, which come from India, China, Japan and the Philippines; the Apis Mellifera Carnica which originate in the Carpathian area between Austria and Slovenia; the Apis Mellifera Caucasica with a high rate of resistance to the cold temperatures of the Caucasian region; the Apis Mellifera Lingustica native to the Mediterranean Sea basin, such as Italy, Spain and France. These breeds are generally also used in other parts of the world as they are well adaptable to any type of environment, both hot and cold.
The differences between Italian and international breeds
Bees are wonderful creatures that can be raised all over the world. In Italy there are several breeds of bees including ligustica, apis mellifera carnica, apis mellifera ligustica and others. These breeds vary in hive size, color, and genetic characteristics. There are also some differences between the Italian and international breeds. Buckfast bees, for example, are a hybrid obtained by crossing some European bee varieties with African ones and can be more aggressive than the Italian breeds. In addition, the Apis Cerana bee-fancy have developed resistance to diseases such as scamitism and are likely to have a higher pollination rate than other species.
