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Bee ID?

Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:03 pm
by brigadoon
Hello,
I a new to beekeeping (2nd year) and only have 3 hives but this Spring and , believe it or not, this Fall I actually caught bees in my swarm traps. I was very excited about this and they are doing well but I have questions.
1. THese bees are very different color than the bees I purchased from Brushy. I have looked online and read several books but none of them have color plates of the different "types" of bees, Russian/German etc. where can I find this info?
2. SHould I re-queen with a non-swarm queen in the Spring?
thanks
mark

Re: Bee ID?

Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:18 pm
by Wally
First, welcome to the forum. I hope you become a regular.

As for the bees. when you buy a russion, carni, ETC., what you get has been open bred with 15 to 25 different drones. The bees in the hive will be different colors, some from mama, and some from the many different daddies. That's why you only see pics of the queens. The progeny can be any color. I would never trade a good feral queen for a bought queen. The only reason I would change queens is because of poor performance by the one I have.

Re: Bee ID?

Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:34 pm
by brigadoon
I must say that the bees from the swarms are very ,very good a getting out early, working late and bringing in large ammounts of honey. How do I handle the Spring when they either swarm or make a new queen? Why do you like a swarm queen better?

Re: Bee ID?

Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:45 pm
by Wally
I don't. I like a queen that lays well, has gentle progeny, and the progeny is hygienic, productive, and the hive is overall satisfactory. I was just saying I would not requeen until I had a reason to dislike the one I had.

Re: Bee ID?

Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:59 pm
by brigadoon
GOt it thanks.