OHB Italian Package Bees

Olivarez Honey Bees (OHB) Italian queens have good honey production, gentle nature, and strong brood-rearing viabilities. They also possess the resilience to survive the winter months in a healthy condition while maintaining a good weight, ensuring their ability to bounce back quickly during spring.

Key Features

Italian OHB bees bring their own set of special characteristics to enrich the hive environment. The following are their key traits:

• Gentle and easily manageable (a good beginner bee)
• Prolific brood producers 
• Excellent hygienic behavior 
• Skilled comb builders
• Superb foragers
• Excellent honey producers

Take Beekeeping to the Next Level

OHB has worked with the “Tech Transfer Team” of the world-renowned entomologist Marla Spivak. This has allowed Mann Lake to identify and maintain key desirable traits within our Italian bee stock. We’ve infused the “Minnesota Hygienic” and the “VSH” traits into our Italian bees, ensuring enhanced resistance and tolerance to diseases and mites.

Settle your OHB Italian package bees into their new home with our helpful installation guide.

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.

Our 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.