Carniolan Bee (Apis mellifera carnica)

The Carniolan bee (Apis mellifera carnica) is a dark grey, very gentle honey bee subspecies originating in the eastern Alps and the Balkans. It is known for its small winter cluster, low winter consumption and very fast spring build-up; its best-known weakness is its swarming tendency. In Europe it is one of the two most widely used races, together with the Italian bee; in Türkiye, the bees of Thrace are close to the Carniolan type.

Where does the Carniolan bee come from?

The Carniolan bee takes its name from the historic Slovenian region of Kranjska (Carniola). Its natural range covers Slovenia, southern Austria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and the neighbouring Balkan countries; the bees of the Carpathian Basin are also considered close to this group. Slovenia has placed the Carniolan bee under legal protection and restricts the use of other races in the country.

In the twentieth century the Carniolan bee replaced the native dark bee in Germany, Austria and much of Central Europe to become the most widespread race. Today lines selected for gentleness, productivity and low swarming tendency are produced in many countries.

In Türkiye, the bees living in Thrace are close to the Carniolan type; the Thrace bee ecotype has been registered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Carniolan-origin queens brought into Anatolia, however, are mixing with local populations.

How do you recognise the Carniolan bee?

• Colour: Between dark grey and brownish; there are no yellow bands on the abdomen, or they are very faint. Some workers may show brown patches on the first segments.
• Hair: Short, dense, silvery-grey bands of hair on the abdominal segments, giving the bee a leaden look.
• Body and tongue: Slender build; the tongue is relatively long (shorter than the Caucasian bee's, similar to or slightly longer than the Italian bee's).

Strengths of the Carniolan bee

• Marked gentleness: Regarded as one of the gentlest subspecies; good lines can be inspected with little smoke in most conditions and stay calm on the comb.
• Winter thrift: Goes into winter with a small cluster and uses its stores economically.
• Fast spring build-up: Increases its population very quickly once pollen and nectar start coming in; makes good use of early forage.
• Adjusting to forage: Quickly reduces brood rearing when forage stops, and stores are conserved.
• Working in cool weather: Reported to go out foraging at low temperatures and in overcast weather.
• Good orientation and little robbing: In closely spaced hives, the tendency to drift and rob is relatively low.
• Little propolis: Frames come apart easily.

The Carniolan bee's weakness: swarming tendency

Swarming tendency is the best-known disadvantage of this subspecies and on its own determines how it is managed. Fast spring build-up and swarming tendency are two sides of the same coin: the colony grows very fast, quickly runs out of space and wants to divide.

In modern selected lines this tendency has been considerably reduced. The choice of line makes a big difference here: there can be a night-and-day difference between an unselected population of the same race and a line selected against swarming.

What conditions suit the Carniolan bee?

It is strong in regions with long, cold winters and short, intense springs. Low winter consumption and a fast spring start turn into an advantage in this climate. In regions with early spring forage (such as orchards, willow and rapeseed) it has a clear edge.

Carniolan vs Italian bees: the difference

These two races are the most common bees in Europe and are often compared. The Carniolan bee is dark grey, thrifty, adjusts quickly to forage and is inclined to swarm. The Italian bee is yellow-banded, keeps rearing brood even when forage stops, has a large population and consumes more in winter. The Carniolan is preferred in regions with long, cold winters, the Italian bee in temperate regions with a long season.

Managing Carniolan bees: step by step

1. Weekly inspections in spring: Allow for the fast build-up; monitor how quickly the brood nest is growing.
2. Add boxes before congestion sets in: Congestion is the strongest swarm trigger.
3. Plan splits from the start: Channel the urge to swarm by making artificial swarms and splits from strong colonies.
4. Use young queens: Queens under one to two years old clearly reduce the swarming tendency.
5. Buy queens from a selected line: A line selected against swarming reduces the workload.
6. Check winter stores anyway: Although thrifty, it must go into winter with sufficient stores.