Turkey, which has a wide ecological diversity due to its geographical location, is rich in honey bee and its ecotypes. A number of researches have been carried out on the identification and breeding of honey bee genotypes in our country. Our Anatolia, which includes various habitats, is the genetic centre of the subspecies of Apis mellifera L. bee. Honey bee races in this region include Apis mellifera anatoliaca (Anatolian bee), Apis mellifera Caucasica (Caucasian bee), Apis mellifera Meda (Iranian bee), Apis mellifera Syriaca (Syrian bee) and Apis mellifera carnica (Carniolan bee). Apart from these, there are also local ecotypes (Efe, Muğla, Thrace and Yığılca). Molecular techniques such as morphological, enzyme polymorphisms, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), PCR-KPUP and DNA sequence analysis and microsatellite are used to determine the variation in honey bees. In Turkey, national beekeeping breeding studies are carried out by some institutes. In this context, breeding projects were carried out in Erzurum, Ordu and İzmir provinces. Thus, ‘Efe Bee’ was obtained as a result of ‘West Aegean Honey Bee Breeding Project’ and ‘Muğla Bee’ was obtained with the development of resistance against diseases. In addition, breeding projects are carried out by the Central Union of Beekeepers in Hatay, Çorum, Kırklareli provinces and Gökçeada, and breeding studies of genotypes of native honey bees in Turkey are carried out within the scope of the ‘National Beekeeping Project’. Controlled mating and artificial insemination, queen rearing and correct use of colony method techniques are important for successful genetic breeding programmes of honey bees. In conclusion, Anatolian bee and its ecotypes are a biological value for our country that should be evaluated. In this context, it is important for the economy of our country to identify the bee races in our country and to carry out breeding programmes and studies related to the increase of their productivity and their resistance to diseases and pests.