Purebred Russian Package Bees

Immerse yourself in beekeeping with our RHBA-certified purebred Russian bees. Each package comes with 3 lbs of honey bees and a laying purebred Russian queen that has been open-air mated.

These bees do not build their colony populations until pollen is available and shut down brood rearing when pollen is scarce. This trait is advantageous in areas where the primary honey and pollen flows emerge later in the year.

Key Features

Here are the key characteristics that make these Russian honey bees stand out:

• Increased resistance to varroa
• High resilience against tracheal mites
• Brood rearing synced with periods of pollen availability
• Low likelihood of robbing

New Hive Introduction Tip

For best results, introduce your bees to their new hive during early to mid-spring, coinciding with abundant foraging options. Local floral cycles can influence this timing, so it’s essential to ensure your bees have ample resources upon their arrival.

See our installation instructions to guide you in settling your Russian honey bees smoothly into their new hive.

Order and Shipping Details

Our bee packages are available while supplies last. The price includes shipping. For USPS shipping, packages will require pickup at your local post office.

We’ll contact you with a shipment date and provide tracking information once the bees are shipped. Cancellations are not accepted within 14 days of the bees’ estimated ship date. 

Bee package orders are prepaid. Orders are subject to a $10 change or cancellation fee after the prepayment has been processed.

By purchasing, you’re agreeing to our Bee Policy.

Bee Insurance

There is always a risk when shipping live animals, so Mann Lake includes insurance with the purchase of every shipped package. Any package with 1 ½” or more of dead bees spread evenly on the bottom of the package is eligible for a refund or replacement. To file a claim, simply submit a photo of the shipping label and the package showing more than 1 ½” of dead bees on the bottom of the package when spread evenly across the bottom via our website Package Bee Help. We make every effort to ship replacements, if available, on the earliest ship date possible. If we are unable to accommodate a replacement, a refund will be issued within 7-10 business days of submission.

Shipping Information

The ship date selected indicates the day your packages are processed for shipping. You will receive tracking information via email. Tracking may not show movement until Monday and your bees will arrive at your local post office for pickup by mid-week.

USPS does not handle live bees the same way as regular parcels. Tracking information can be tricky with bees.

• Orders typically reach you ahead of the USPS estimated delivery date indicated in the tracking details.
• Tracking information might not always reflect real-time updates, be fully comprehensive, or entirely precise. There's no need to worry if it seems like your package isn't moving forward.
• Tracking information is supplied by USPS. While we strive to assist, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of tracking statuses and do not have access to any tracking details beyond what is available on USPS.com.