There are several races of the honeybee. Each of these races has different advantages and disadvantages linked to their original regional background. Each region likely has a differing climate, topography, resources and predators. Because of difference in background, each race of honey bees have evolved slightly in a different manner than their cousins allowing them to better take advantage of their specific situation.
Today the Italian Honey Bee is the most commonly kept honey bee in the United States, conversely the Africanized Honey Bee is the most feared and illegal to keep in many regions. Fitting somewhere between these two extremes include many of the other races and the Feral Honey Bee, though technically not a race in its own, it may be acclimated to the area in which it has been found.
The following is a partial listing of the races of honeybee that may be available to a prospective beekeeper, along side is a brief amount of information regarding each race and some common advantages and disadvantages with each.
Apis mellifera scutellata
The Africanized honey bee, also known as the killer bee. Because of the media attention received, Africanized bees have been given a bad name. This is not to say that they can’t be more dangerous than standard honeybees, their representation has simply been blown out of proportion. There have been several more recent breeding programs that have produced a more gentle form of this race. This gentler form of bee has even become one of the more sought after honeybee races in regions of Brazil.
Pros and Cons of the Africanized honey bee
Pros
Cons
Excellent honey producer
Strongly protects hives against predators
Resistance to Varroa mites
Well suited to tropical climates
Overly defensive, occasionally dangerous
Readily swarms or absconds
Difficult to keep near to human habitations and livestock
Apis mellifera: hybrid
The Buckfast hybrid was produced by Brother Adam of the Buckfast Abbey. Brother Adam crossed a great many races of bees with the British bee in hopes of creating a superior breed. The results are what is now known as the Buckfast Bee.
Apis mellifera ?
A genetic trait, usually found in the Italian race, cordovans are used mainly for tracking the genetic makeup due to the wide variance in color.
Pros and Cons of the Cordovan honey bee
Pros
Cons
Usually found in strains of Italian honeybees
Attractive coloration make queen location less difficult
Superb comb builders
Very gentle
Coloration trait is useful in open mating based breeding programs
The cordevan trait may be bred into any race of honeybee
Cordovans ARE currently sold in the US
Consume large amounts of food in winter
Italian cordevans may perform poorly under under cold wet conditions
Apis mellifera mellifera
The Western European Honey Bee, also known as the dark or black bee, was the first honeybee imported to the Americas. This distinctly marked bee is brown and black in color and overwinter well.
Apis mellifera ligustica
Italian bees are the most common stock bee, and likely are the race to be found in packages or as unspecified breeds and queens for sale.
Pros and Cons of the Italian honey bee
Pros
Cons
Good beginner bee
Readily builds comb
Unparalleled comb builders
Only moderate tendency to swarm
Relatively easy and calm to work with
Lower range propolis producer
Continuous brood rearing continues after honey flow ceases