Apis mellifera carnica

The breed known in Switzerland as Carnica bee is also called Carinthian bee, Carniolan bee, Lower Austrian bee, Banat bee, Carpathian bee or Karst bee. It is a naturally evolved subspecies of the Western honey bee.

It is the northernmost representative of the Balkan populations and is autochthonous (original) only to the regions south of the Alps. In the years after the Second World War, it became widespread throughout the German-speaking world, almost completely displacing the dark bee, which is native north of the Alps. The reasons were the larger colony size and the higher honey yield that could be achieved with it.
As the Carinthian bee was shaped by the south-eastern Alpine climate, it copes well with hot summers and cold winters. The humidity and instability of the maritime climate, on the other hand, causes it difficulties, which is why it is hardly widespread in England, France and Scandinavia. The Carinthian bee is docile, but unlike some other subspecies of Apis mellifera, it has an increased swarming instinct.

According to publications by the Carnica breeder Hans Peschetz, there was a "bee-race mishmash" in Carinthia and it was not until 1929 that the Carnica (strain Glockner) from the foot of the Großglockner was bred and propagated in Carinthia.

Characteristics
Essential characteristics of the Carinthian bee according to Friedrich Ruttner are: (for Alpine Carnica - breeding colonies).

Shape:
medium sized
slender
long body appendages
carapace colour of the abdomen of the workers:
dark, sometimes leathery brown corners and 1 ring (not a bastard trait).
In summary, Ruttner describes the characteristics of a Carnica colony worthy of breeding as follows: Overall appearance: Grey, soft, calm.