Carnica Queen Cells

You can save money by mating out your own queens, using our premium-quality Carniolan queen cells. Carniolan honey bees are about the same size as the Italian honey bee, but they are physically distinguished by their generally dusky brown-grey color that is relieved by stripes of a subdued lighter brown color. Their chitin is dark, but it is possible to find lighter colored or brown colored rings and dots on their bodies. They are also known as the “grey bee”.

We generally have queen cells on hand from mid March through mid Octomber. Split your colonies yourself before they swarm!!!

Carnica Queen Characteristics:

Considered to be gentle and non-aggressive
Can be kept in populated areas
Sense of orientation considered better than the Italian honey bee
Less drifting of bees from one hive to a neighboring hive
When compared to the Italian honey bee, they are not as prone to rob honey
Able to overwinter in smaller numbers of winter bees
Honey stores are conserved
Able to quickly adapt to changes in the environment
Better for areas with long winters
Fast rhythm of brood production and then brood rearing reduction when available forage decreases
Low use of propolis
Resistant to brood diseases
For areas with strong spring nectar flow and early pollination
Forage earlier in the morning and later in the evening, and on cool, wet days
Workers live up to 12% longer than other breeds