I am sure this is a frequently asked question, and if I am asking in the wrong forum my apologies, but I intend on purchasing my hives (1 or 2) this winter to early spring. I am 100% new to this hobby, but I have been researching different breeds of honey bees as well as bee breeders and suppliers. I have joined the local bee keepers club and am absorbing important information there, but I have a question in which I would like multiple opinions and suggestions.
We live in South West Virginia and typically experience fairly mild winters and summers. The types of bees that I am considering are and the reasons why:
These selections are based on information gathered from multiple websites
1. Carniolan
pros over winters well, queen adjusts laying to nectar flow, low robbing/swarming tendencies, very gentle, explosive build up of brood, forages in cool/wet weather
cons low resistance to tracheal mites and varroa mites
2. Russian
pros over winters very well, queen adjusts laying to nectar flow, low robbing tendencies, very gentle, high resistance to tracheal mites and varroa mites, explosive build up of brood, forages in cool/wet weather
cons does not readily build comb on empty foundation, higher tendency to swarm
3. Buckfast
pros over winters well, resistant to tracheal mites and varroa mites, very gentle, queen adjusts laying to nectar flow, low swarm tendency
cons poor early spring foraging, not easily found for sale
4. Italian
pros widely available, good beginner bee, unparalleled comb builder, relatively calm/gentle
cons more likely to rob other hives, queen does not curtail egg laying during dearths, keeps a large cluster during winter, more likely to drift
Please share any and all experiences and advice. Thanks! Oh and I may be wrong on some or all of my points, but this is all drawn directly from online research.