Ethological characteristics of Apis mellifera carnica
Les caractéristiques éthologiques de l’abeille carniolienne Apis mellifera carnica
Ethologische Merkmale der Krainer Biene Apis mellifera carnica

The Apis mellifera carnica, also known as the Carniolan honey bee, exhibits several ethological characteristics that are adapted to its environment. These characteristics include sensitivity and responsiveness to environmental conditions, with the intensity of egg-laying being proportional to the amount of pollen and nectar collected. Additionally, the Carniolan bee colony overwinters with a smaller number of bees and consumes a modest supply of honey during the winter.  The Carniolan honey bee is known for its adaptation to modest and unyielding environments, making it well-suited for such conditions.

The Apis mellifera carnica, or Carniolan honey bee, adapts to its environment through several strategies:

  1. Sensitivity and responsiveness: The bee is sensitive and responsive to environmental conditions, adjusting its behavior and intensity of egg-laying according to the amount of pollen and nectar collected.
  2. Adaptation to modest and unyielding environments: The Carniolan honey bee is well-suited for modest and unyielding environments, as it can survive and thrive in temperate Central European climate regions, ranging from the Alps to the Carpathian mountains.
  3. Overwintering strategy: The Carniolan bee colony overwinters with a smaller number of bees (5 to 8 frames) and consumes a modest supply of honey during the winter. This strategy allows the bees to survive the cold winter months and continue their essential role as pollinators.
  4. Morphological diversity: The Carniolan honey bee exhibits morphological diversity in different regions, such as Croatia and Slovenia. This diversity may contribute to the bee’s ability to adapt to various environmental conditions and selectively breed for traits of apicultural interest.
  5. Physiological adaptations: The bee’s metabolism and upper thermal limits are crucial physiological traits that have been adapted through evolutionary processes to cope with different environmental conditions and climate.
  6. Local adaptation: The effects of selection and local adaptation on relevant breeding traits of Apis mellifera carnica have been studied to analyze resilience and economic suitability. These studies have shown that local adaptation can have negative effects on colony strength, overwintering ability, and honey production in non-local honey bee stocks.

In summary, the Apis mellifera carnica adapts to its environment through sensitivity and responsiveness to environmental conditions, adaptation to modest and unyielding environments, overwintering strategies, morphological diversity, physiological adaptations, and local adaptation. These strategies enable the bee to thrive in various environmental conditions and contribute to its survival and essential role as a pollinator.

  • Very docile, rarely stings;
  • Calmly sits on the combs;
  • Renowned for its high yield;
  • Does not drift into foreign hives, very good orientation;
  • Flies at lower temperature than other races of bees;
  • Over-winters in relatively small colonies and consumes moderate amounts of stored food;
  • Quickly adapt to changes in local environment / hive;
  • Exceptionally intensive spring development;
  • Good, compact laying pattern;
  • Well resistant to the brood diseases
  • Workers live up to 12 % longer than other breeds
  •  très calme, elle pique très rarement,
  •  elle reste assise tranquillement sur le rayon de miel,
  •  elle se distingue par son rendement en miel,
  •  elle ne se cogne pas dans les autres ruches,
  •  elle hiverne dans des familles relativement petites et consomme des réserves modérées de nourriture,
  •  son développement printanier est extrêmement intensif, elle fait de très bons couvains
  •  sehr ruhig, sticht selten,
  •  sitzt ruhig in der Bienenwabe,
  •  sie zeichnet sich durch den Ertrag aus,
  •  sie verfliegt sich nicht in fremde Bienenstöcke,
  •  sie überwintert in relativ kleinen Völkern und verbraucht mäßige Vorräte an Nahrung,
  •  ausgesprochen intensive Frühjahrsentwicklung, gutes Gelege

carnica Medokost®
Apiaries – Imkerei – apiculture MEDOKOST & MEDOVITA, Slovenia
Apis mellifera carnica MEDOKOST® – Kozjansko, Slovenia
Certified queen bee breeding center for the Carniolan bee (Apis m. carnica)
Centre d’élevage de reines certifié pour l’abeille carniolienne (Apis m. carnica)
Zertifizierte Bienenköniginzuchtstation für die Krainer Biene (Apis m. carnica)

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