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Bee breeding is a branch of agriculture that has been actively developing in recent decades. In today’s world, beekeepers can choose between a variety of insect species. Karpatka is a variety of honey bees that are bred in many countries.
Description of the Carpathian breed
Carpathian bees owe their name to the Carpathian mountain range, which is located in Eastern Europe. Karpatka is successfully grown on the territory of Ukraine, Our Country, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The first description of Carpathian bees was made in the middle of the XNUMXth century. The Carpathian population was found in the European highlands. Beekeepers kept it and began to breed it in different countries. The selection of this species is carried out by scientists from Korea and China. Such interest in Carpathian bees can be explained by their versatility: they are able to survive in regions with different climatic conditions.
Physical characteristics of the species:
- painted in gray, with silver tints;
- the average size of the proboscis is 6 mm, in some Carpathians it reaches 7 mm;
- wings length – about 10 mm;
- at birth, the individual weighs 110 mg;
- the wing index, or cubital index, of the Carpathians reaches 2,6;
- body width along the abdomen is 4,5 mm.
Description of the uterus Carpathian
The Carpathian bee is the female of a particular bee family. Its main function is to lay eggs, from which new queens, workers or drones subsequently develop. The appearance of the uterus is different from that of the working individual. The queen bee weighs over 200 mg and can reach up to 230 mg. The color of the uterus can vary from black to bright burgundy. The queen lives in the hive from 3 to 5 years, but with a decrease in efficiency, beekeepers can replace it artificially after 1 or 2 years of work.
The queen bees of the Carpathian breed have a sting, the use of which is used against other queen bees of the bee colony. The queen bee has well-developed jaw glands, which secrete a special fluid that is distributed throughout the body. Workers lick it off and distribute it throughout the entire nest. This fluid tends to inhibit the ability to lay eggs in other female bees.
For a long period, the queen bee feeds on milk, which is brought to her by worker bees. Before flying, she begins to consume honey, while her weight decreases, and she becomes able to fly out of the hive. Her flight is for the purpose of mating alternately with several drone partners. At the same time, insects avoid inbreeding, which makes it possible to preserve the population and prevent homogamy.
The uterus lays 1800 eggs in one day, after artificial interventions, the figure can increase to 3000.
Features of Carpathian bees
The Karpatka bee is popular among experienced beekeepers. This is explained by the description of the breed:
- insects are able to fly in any weather;
- the work of Carpathian bees begins in early spring;
- the average family collects from 50 to 80 kg of honey;
- high growth rates of the bee colony;
- the ability to collect honey from any plants;
- willingness to work indoors;
- low swarming rates;
- high rates of adaptation.
How bees of this breed behave
According to the opinions of those who breed bees in different regions, the Carpathian is one of the most peaceful species. When inspecting the hive and moving the frames, the insects do not move on them and calmly wait for the end of the inspection. Scientific data confirm that only about 5% of all bee colonies of the Carpathian breed are subject to swarming. A competent experienced beekeeper can stop the swarming process in a timely manner.
How to endure wintering
Frost resistance of Carpathian bees is considered average. But due to the increase in the family size, as well as the early first flight, these indicators are almost not taken into account. For this breed, it is important to maintain an optimal level of humidity in the hive in winter; it is recommended to bring Karpatian bees into the winter hut after sub-zero temperatures are established. Strong families of the Carpathian breed can endure wintering in hives insulated in the wild.
Can a Carpathian bee winter outdoors in the northwestern region
The northwestern region is characterized by low rainfall and an extended winter period. There are two wintering options for bees:
- Wintering in a warm room.
- Wintering in a warmed hive in the wild.
The beekeepers of the northwestern region recommend leaving strong families of the Carpathian breed in the wild, while increasing the amount of fodder honey: 1-25 kg of a flower variety should be stored for 30 family.
Resistance to diseases
Insects have good indicators of resistance to various infections. In Carpathians, nosematosis, varroatosis, and acarapidiasis are rare. Carpathians are among the leaders of bee breeds that have stable immunity.
Recommended breeding regions
Carpathian bees are recommended for breeding in the southern regions, on the territory of the European part of the country. Despite the opinion of beekeepers about the thermophilicity of the Carpathian bee, it is successfully bred in Siberia and the Trans-Baikal Territory. This is due to the ability of the Carpathians to adapt to new conditions of detention. In addition, it is well transported, bee colonies have almost no losses after delivery by ground transport.
Carpathian bees are especially popular in Belarus, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and in Eastern Europe.
Productivity of the breed
A feature of the Carpathian breed is the collection of honey from different types of plants. Thanks to the early first flight and the ability to collect nectar from flowering honey plants, strong colonies produce about 80 kg of honey per season. Honey extracted by Carpathian bees has a memorable taste, it contains almost no impurities.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Among the main advantages of the species are efficiency, resistance to infections, calm disposition. But the Carpathian also has its drawbacks, which must be taken into account when acquiring individuals.
The disadvantages of the breed include:
- a tendency to steal (bees fly into the territory of other hives, carry away honey);
- limited amount of propolis in the hives (insects do not tend to produce propolis in sufficient quantities, this mechanism increases the consumption of wax);
- ignoring the wax moth (Carpathians do not fight the parasite, they allow it to destroy honey reserves);
- the manifestation of aggression in areas with low night temperatures (such observations are shared by beekeepers who keep bees in Siberia and the Urals).
Features of reproduction
The uterus of the Carpathian has high fertility rates, in the spring the bee colonies increase several times. The laying of eggs of the uterus is carried out carefully, in a special order, with almost no gaps.
When a queen bee dies, another takes its place. In one hive, 2 females can exist for several months, beekeepers call this phenomenon “quiet change”.
Features of breeding
Carpathian breeding begins with the acquisition of full bee packages. Insects quickly adapt, create a nest and store food. Packages are purchased in the spring, for 1 year the costs can fully pay off.
Complete bee packages contain:
- feed supply up to 3 kg;
- about 15 thousand working insects;
- young mother.
It is recommended to purchase bee packages from manufacturers with a proven reputation and good reviews in order to exclude the spring Pomor of mixed individuals.
Content Tips
Carpathian bees are suitable for breeding beginner beekeepers, and if the basic rules for care are observed, the bees provide the production of delicious honey, characterized by slow crystallization.
- To combat the wax moth, to which the Carpathians show amazing indifference, they use bunches of herbs: mint, wormwood, wild rosemary. They are laid out around the hives: the smell repels the pest and keeps it away from the bees.
- If the hive is struck by a wax moth, then to protect the nearby house, they dig a small trench around and fill it with water.
- To prevent possible swarming, increase ventilation in the hive and prevent the entry of the sun’s rays.
- Carpathian bees are suitable for keeping in personal plots due to their calm behavior.
- For free wintering in regions with low temperatures, it is recommended to increase the reserves of fodder honey: for a strong bee mixture, you should store up to 30 kg of the product.
Conclusion
Karpatka is a breed that is often called universal. With proper care, it can adapt to different conditions of existence and please with high productivity.
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