Georgia is the “central homeland” for the subspecies, although the bees also can be found in eastern Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

[8] The Russian revolution and consequent annexation of Georgia by the Red Army in 1921 halted the export of Caucasian honey bees.

Soviet officials were concerned about preserving the purity of the Caucasian subspecies and outlawed any export without special permission.

[9] In 1932 professor E. F. Phillips was invited to the Soviet Union, Republic of Georgia and spent a month visiting various beekeeping and bee research establishments.

E. F. Phillips paid special attention to the unique characteristics of the Apis Mellifera Caucasia (Caucasian honey bee) species - great tongue (proboscis) length and docility and was impressed with the beekeeping potential in Georgia.