The Italian or Ligustica honey bee is the most popular in the world. Kona Queen Breeder Queens and Drone Mothers are chosen from top commercial honey producing colonies.

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These production-proven queens pass other stringent tests regarding temperament and resistance to diseases. Our Italians produce large frames of brood in a tight pattern. 

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These queens will expand on their brood patterns when stimulated, and also curtail brood rearing after the honey flow. Kona Queen Italians usually store honey in the brood nest and rarely need to be fed.

 

They are excellent honey producers and not likely to swarm. 

Carniolan or Carnica honey bees are known for their ability to winter well in severe climates and build up quickly in the spring. They will work in slightly cooler conditions than the Italian queens.

 

Carniolan queens keep a very tight brood nest with heavy stores of honey. These black queens are mated to our Italian drones to provide a hybrid colony with beautiful brood patterns and highly productive hives.

 

Instrumental insemination is used to maintain and enhance this stock.