If your dream is an apiary, then first of all you need to figure out which species of bees exist and what are the differences between them. Each breed is distinguished by its performance, character, resistance to frost, as well as appearance.
To date, all over the world you can count about two dozen species of bees. In this article we show the most common breed of bees.
- Yellow Caucasian
- Central Russian
- Mountain Gray Caucasian
- Carpathian
- Ukrainian steppe
- Italian
- Karnik, or Krainskaya
- Buckfast
Yellow Caucasian
All yellow bees of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan can be attributed to the yellow Caucasian breed of bees. Body color in bees is gray with bright yellow rings. A one-day bee weighs 90 mg, and its proboscis is 6.6-6.9 mm. The weight of the infertile uterus is 180 mg, and that of the fetus - 200 mg. 
The efficiency of this species of bees is good, they release up to 10 swarms and are capable of laying about 100 queen cells. Experienced beekeepers claim that there may be 2-3 wombs in a swarm, and after a swarm of bees enters the hive, they leave the best uterus, while killing the rest.
Yellow Caucasian bees are quite peaceful. When inspecting a nest of bees, the queen does not stop its work, and the bees do not leave the frame. Frames plentifully propolis, leaving a wet, dark-colored signet of honey.
Bees steal well enough and can attack other families, while they protect their nests poorly. They are capable of harvesting propolis and pollen well, while they are actively working, they can collect a lot of honey. The honeyiness of the bees is low. They quickly change one bribe to another, performance in bad weather is not reduced. They adapt to hot climates quite well, as well as to transportation.
Central Russian
The Central Russian breed of bees today is spread all over the world, however Central and Northern Europe is considered its homeland. Young bees of this breed are rather large, they can weigh up to 110 mg. The body of the bee is dark gray, covered with sparse long hairs, 5 mm long, and proboscis - up to 6.4 mm. When they are attacked by bees, they can protect the nest badly enough, and are not able to steal from others. 
Unlike other species, Central Russian bees are better able to withstand frost better than others. Since in the winter club carbon dioxide is within 4%, this leads to the fact that the bees are at rest, reducing activity. This kind of bee is very good at digging. Quite often, half of the apiary is in swarm condition.
Bees collect honey from buckwheat, linden and heather. By productivity, they can exceed other types of bees. The seal of honey is white.Can collect a large amount of pollen and have a good waxiness.
Mountain Gray Caucasian
The mountain gray Caucasian breed of bees has found its place in the mountainous regions of Transcaucasia and the Caucasus. Bees of this species are very peaceful. They have the longest proboscis - up to 7.2 mm. The weight of one-day working bees reaches up to 90 mg, fetal females up to 200 mg, and barren - up to 180 mg. The fecundity of females reaches up to 1500 eggs per day. 
Nest propolisovano abundantly, signet honey is wet, dark in color. This breed of bees often attacks other nests, and they can protect themselves well. If you look at the nest of bees, they will behave friendly, without stopping the work on the comb, even if you get it. A distinctive feature of this species is that they collect nectar very well. Without difficulty, they can find a source of a bribe, quickly changing the plants on which nectar is found.
With sufficient secretion of nectar from buckwheat and linden, they do not exceed the average Russian bees in terms of productivity. First of all, honey is collected in the brood part of the nest, and then - in extensions. The productivity of gray Caucasian bees is low, only 4-5% can be in a swarm.But able to lay from 8 to 20 queen cells.
It is easy to switch from a swarm to a working one for bees. If bees overwinter not in their native lands, then their susceptibility to frosts decreases, in contrast to central Russian ones. Transportation tolerate well.
Carpathian
The habitat of this species of bees is the Carpathians. The body of a bee is gray, the proboscis in length reaches 7 mm, and the weight of working bees is 110 mg. The fetal uterus weighs up to 205 mg, and the barren - 185 mg. In the springtime, when the intensity of family development is high, the fecundity of the uterus can reach up to 1,800 eggs per day. 
The peculiarity of these bees is that they are able to start collecting works at an early age. Bees collect nectar, which contains little sugar. The Carpathian bees are very peaceful, they remain calm when inspecting the nest, without stopping their work, their robility is low.
The seal of honey is white and dry. The productivity of families is high, can reach up to 40 kg. Carpathian bees can easily find a source of bribe, quickly switch from one to another, while not being in a swarm. However, if the weather is unfavorable, the bees do not fly out for a bribe.
Carpathian bees are inferior in quality of wax to Italian and Russian breeds. When attacking the nest protect well, while prone to theft. The collection of pollen in this breed is low. Carpathian bees are indifferent to the wax moth, so you should pay attention to combating pests combs.
Ukrainian steppe
The Ukrainian breed of bees lives in the areas of the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. The body of the bee is light gray, the length of the proboscis reaches 6.63 mm. The weight of the infertile uterus is about 180 mg, and that of the fetus - 200 mg. The fecundity of the uterus reaches up to 2300 eggs per day, while it may increase to the main collection of honey from lime, acacia. 
In spring time, families develop slowly because they do not fly in cool weather. When looking at the nest, the bees behave calmly, but they are not as peaceful as the gray Caucasian ones. Medium propolis nest, moderate honey harvest.
Signet honey white, dry. In adverse weather, the bees do not fly out for nectar. When the time comes for the main collection of honey, the bees learn sunflower, which grows in Ukraine in large numbers. By collecting nectar, Ukrainian bees can fly away from the apiary for 5 km.
This breed is medium average. Bees are not inclined to steal, but when attacking, they can perfectly protect their nest. Their pollen harvest is low. The productivity of Ukrainian bees is quite good, up to 40 kg. Experienced beekeepers report a 120 kg honey harvest. Resistance to frost is quite high. Transportation is well tolerated.
Italian
The homeland of the Italian bee breed is modern Italy. All breeds of honey bees are in demand, but this species is the most common in the world. There are several types of Italian bees: gray, three-strip and golden. This is a fairly large bee, the working weight reaches 115 mg, and the proboscis up to 6.7 mm. The mass of the barren female is 190 mg, and the fetus is 210 mg. The fecundity of the uterus reaches up to 2500 eggs per day, in large quantities seeding on the comb. 
When inspecting the nest bees are at rest. It is easier for bees to find a source of nectar near the nest, so they can often steal from neighboring families, and they protect their nests well. This breed has good productivity, can easily switch from one source to another bribe.
The development begins in late spring and lasts until the end of summer, which gives them the opportunity to build up their families.First of all, the bees collect honey in the upper extensions and hulls, and when they are filled, the collection is transferred to the nest.
Signet honey is wet, white or gray. In unfavorable weather for nectar not fly out. They build beautiful, even, very neat honeycombs. Not bad harvested propolis and pollen. Italian bees have a moderate productivity.
Karnik, or Krainskaya
The Karnik or Krajina breed of bees lives in Austria and Yugoslavia. The body of the bee is dark gray, the length of the proboscis reaches 6.8 mm, and the weight of the working bee is 110 mg. The infertile uterus weighs 185 mg, and the fetal - 205 mg. The fecundity of the uterus reaches 200 eggs per day. 
A characteristic feature is the peacefulness of karnikas, but when inspecting the honeycomb, they behave restlessly and constantly move along it. The efficiency of Krajina bees is moderate, if there are no bribes, it increases. The development of families in bees can be characterized in some degree: the family grows quite quickly, so you need to have time to expand the nest and start collecting honey.When collecting honey, first of all, they fill the nest body, and only then the extensions and the upper bodies.
Signet honey is wet, from dark to white. In adverse weather for a bribe do not fly. Krajina bee prefers a weak, but long honey collection, especially if it is collected from the drop. For resistance to frost, they are between the Central Russian and Caucasian bees.
Buckfast
The breed of bees backfast is the most popular and recognized all over the world, their characteristic is one of the best. They are very hardworking and not evil at the same time. Bees can take root in any conditions, but most of all they love rain. Initially, they were used to combat ticks that were threatened by bee trachea. The whole apiary could die from this parasite. 
Backfast was taken from the Italian breed, so they have a lot in common. The only difference is the dark color of bakfast, and their size and length are the same. Bees buckfast frost is poorly tolerated, but well resistant to diseases. Have a great sense of peace, peace-loving, do not attack other bees.
Characterized by high productivity in the production of honey, bring a lot of pollen, working all day. One uterus can lay eggs for a long time. Not afraid of wind, rain, fog. The breed backfast even in the autumn, at a temperature of +10 ° C, collects pollen and nectar. In the nests there is little propolis, unlike the Italian breed.
