What is an Italian bee queen?
The Italian honey bee, Apis mellifera ligustica, is a subspecies native to the Italian peninsula and one of the most widely kept honey bees in the United States and elsewhere. An Italian queen is the egg-laying female of a colony headed by this stock. Because the queen largely determines the colony’s traits, beekeepers often buy a queen to start or requeen a hive.
To see how Italians fit among other stocks, see types of honey bees.
Appearance
Italian bees are typically light brown to golden yellow, often with distinct yellow abdominal bands. Queens tend to look long and slender. Color varies, and crossbred bees can look similar, so appearance alone does not prove ancestry.
Traits beekeepers value
- Gentleness: generally described as calm to work, which is why they are commonly suggested for beginners.
- Brood rearing: known for prolific laying, with strong queens often cited as laying well over a thousand eggs a day at peak.
- Honey production: strong foragers that can produce good crops where the nectar flow is reliable.
- Clean comb: often noted for white wax cappings on honey.
- Queen lifespan: queens can live for a few years, but many beekeepers replace them sooner as productivity declines.
Possible drawbacks
- High food use: large brood nests consume a lot of stores, so colonies in cold or long-winter areas may need careful feeding and monitoring.
- Spring or late-season dwindling if stores run low.
- Robbing and drifting: Italians are often reported to rob and drift between hives more than some other stocks.
- Swarming: typically described as low to moderate, but any large colony needs space.
Italian vs Carniolan and others
Carniolans are also gentle, but are often described as building up quickly in spring and using stores more conservatively, which suits some cold regions. Russian bees are selected for mite resistance and Buckfast lines for a mix of traits. Which is best depends on climate, forage and goals; see our regional example, best honey bees for Pennsylvania.
Where to buy Italian queens
Italian queens are sold by large equipment suppliers (such as Mann Lake and Betterbee), by dedicated queen breeders, and by many regional apiaries. Local breeders are worth seeking out because their queens are raised in a climate closer to yours and avoid long shipping. Local clubs and state beekeeper associations can point you to them.
Prices vary by supplier, season and whether the line is selected for traits such as varroa-sensitive hygiene. Mated, laying Italian queens commonly fall somewhere in the tens of dollars each, but check current listings.
What to check when buying
- Mated and laying vs virgin: most hobbyists want mated queens.
- Stock information: ask about the breeder’s selection and any trait claims.
- Shipping timing: avoid extreme heat or cold during transit, and be ready to install promptly on arrival.
- Cage condition and attendants: the queen and attendants should be alive and active.
- Guarantees or replacement policy.
Introducing the queen
Queens are usually introduced in a cage so the colony can get used to her pheromones before she is released, often after the old queen has been removed. Follow your supplier’s instructions, as methods differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is the queen bee the only female?
No. Workers are also female, but they are normally non-reproducing. The queen is typically the only fully developed egg-layer in the colony.
Where can I buy Italian honey bees?
From equipment suppliers, queen breeders, and regional apiaries; as packages, nucs or individual queens.
What can I leave out for bees to eat?
Flowers are best. Offering sugar syrup or water outdoors can encourage robbing and is generally better left to managed feeding inside a hive.
What is the scientific name for the Italian bee?
Apis mellifera ligustica.