When doing research for my first hive, I found out about the BUCKFAST bees. Read on.
Buckfast - Apis Mellifera: hybrid
The Buckfast hybrid was produced by Brother Adam of the Buckfast Abbey. Brother Adam crossed many races of bees (mainly Anatolians with Italians and Carniolans) in hopes of creating a superior breed. The results are what is now know as the Buckfast Bee. While the European variety of Buckfast are considered very gentle, the American variety is far more defensive.(I and other beekeepers i know have found this NOT to be true. i worked my hives for three years without even using a veil!!) There is a debate among beekeepers if this defensiveness is due to breeding for varroa resistance or partial hybridization with the AHB (Africanized Honey Bee) of the Buckfast line in America. The issues are further clouded in that the two leading American queen breeders are breeding for varroa resistance and are also located in AHB territory. AHB are usually considered by most experts to be more resistant to varroa than the European Honey Bee.
Here is more info about other breeds:
http://www.beekeepingstarterkit.com/page/1317490
You can order them from this awesome family business.
www.rweaver.com
