Resistance of Carniolan (Krajina) bees to changing weather and honey flow conditions

Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Kaluga branch, Vishnevsky st., 27, 248007, Kaluga, Russia

¹ Corresponding author: o.zelenina2013@yandex.ru

Abstract

The observation data for the favorable honey flow conditions of 2024 indicate the intensive development of Carniolan (Krajina) bee colonies. By the peak of the honey flow, colonies occupied 12.8±0.98 frames, with an average of 1.7 supers per hive. Over the season, each of the 10 experimental colonies yielded 24.6±8.41 kg of commercial honey. In the fall, 10.9±0.83 frames were left in the hives. No queen replacement or colony culling was carried out during the summer of 2024. The colonies survived the fall-winter dormancy period successfully, with a 100% survival rate. In the spring of 2025, an abnormally warm period was recorded for the Kaluga region. The bee colonies developed actively, and nucleus colonies were made from five of the families. However, subsequent cold, rainy weather slowed the development of bee colonies; two colonies were culled. By the start of the main honey flow, the hives contained 11.5±1.54 frames, with an average of 0.5 supers per hive. Commercial honey yield per colony was 6.9±5.58 kg. The increase in colony population during the 2025 season, including culled colonies, was 30%. At the end of the season, 11.2±0.95 frames remained in the hives. The study results showed that the Carniolan (Krajina) bee breed is resilient to changing weather conditions. Commercial honey production from bee colonies decreased significantly due to unfavorable weather conditions in the summer of 2025.