Carpathian bee: description and characteristics of the breed, pros and cons, features

Carpathian bees have many advantages. Insects of this breed are distinguished by their hardy character and diligence. They are characterized by peaceful non-aggressive behavior and high productivity. Therefore, this breed is chosen by many beekeepers. In order for bee breeding to be successful and efficient, it is important to provide them with suitable conditions and pay attention to disease prevention.

History of selection

The Carpathian breed is considered the result of the work of Ukrainian breeders, which was carried out in the sixties of the last century. They set themselves the goal of obtaining productive bee species.

Individuals that lived in the Carpathians were used as a basis. Similar work was carried out in Russia, Kazakhstan, and the Caucasus. As a result, the Carpathian breed appeared, which has many subtypes and has gained great popularity among beekeepers.

Appearance

Worker bees are characterized by a gray hue of the body. On the abdomen, the anterior part of the tergites has a silvery tinge. Only Rakhovsky bees differ - they have a dull silver color.

Worker bees are characterized by a proboscis measuring 6.3-7 millimeters. On the first day, they weigh 110 milligrams. The third tergite reaches 4.8 mm in width. The mass of queen bees at the exit from the queen cells is 208 milligrams, and by the beginning of laying they weigh 216.

Productivity

The main characteristic of the breed is the ability to collect honey from various types of crops. Thanks to the early first flight, bees are able to collect nectar from blooming honey plants. This allows strong families to bring 80 kilograms of honey. It is characterized by bright taste and almost complete absence of impurities.

Specific behavior

Karpatka is considered one of the most peaceful breeds of bees. Even during the inspection of the hives and the movement of the frames, the insects calmly wait for the end of the process. According to scientific studies, only 5% of bee colonies are subject to swarming. Experienced beekeepers can easily stop this process.

Carpathian bee

The main task of the queen bee is laying eggs.In appearance, it differs from other individuals. Her weight exceeds 200 milligrams. Sometimes it reaches 230. The color can be different - from rich burgundy to black. The queen lives in the hive for 3-5 years. However, with a decrease in productivity, beekeepers perform an artificial replacement. This happens after 1-2 years.

For queen bees of this breed, the presence of a sting is characteristic. They can use it against other queen bees of the family. The queen bee has well developed jaw glands. They are responsible for secreting a special fluid that spreads throughout the body. Workers lick it off and spread it throughout the nest. This helps suppress other females' ability to lay eggs.

For a long period of time, the queen bee eats milk supplied by the worker bees. Before departure, she begins to eat honey. This leads to a decrease in the weight of the individual. Thanks to this, she is able to fly out of the hive. In flight, mating occurs with drone partners.

The queen bee can lay up to 1800 eggs per day. Thanks to artificial interventions, this figure increases to 3000.

Features and breeding areas

Karpatka is considered a universal breed. Of course, its full potential is revealed in the Carpathians. However, in fact, these bees can be bred in different regions.

This breed is great for beginners as it is considered to be very undemanding. To obtain a sufficient amount of high-quality honey, it is recommended to follow these rules:

1. To combat the wax moth, it is worth using bunches of herbs. Mint, wild rosemary, wormwood are suitable for this.
2. If the hive is still struck by a wax moth, to protect other houses, it is worth digging a trench and filling it with water.
3. To prevent swarming, it is necessary to improve ventilation in the hive and prevent sunlight from entering there.
4. For a free wintering it is worth increasing the stocks of fodder honey. For a strong family, up to 30 kilograms of product will be required.

Pros and cons

The following advantages are typical for the Carpathian breed:

• rapid development of bee colonies in spring time;
• effective work on bribes of any type;
• ability to collect low sugar nectar;
• ability to work in cold, cloudy and rainy weather;
• production of a large amount of wax;
• minimum tendency to swarm;
• high resistance to parasites and diseases.

The only negative is the need to control the strength of the families. With weak bribes, bees of this breed work exclusively for brood.

Carpathian bees are considered very productive and hardy insects that have many advantages. Therefore, many beekeepers are engaged in breeding this breed.

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