Comments on: Italian, Carniolan or Russian?

By: Keith

Keith — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 01:14:27 +0000

Decades????

This is my 4th year. What I learned this year is that you have to treat for mites in the Fall. I am also thinking that Italian bees may be too fragile for a bad New York winter.

My brother started with bees and he swears by feral brown bees. These are descended form the European brown bees that came over with the early settlers. They have been breeding with Italians and Russians and other bees that have been brought in over the years. They are hardy and make it through the winter. They do not produce as much honey as Italians and may not be as gentle. If you can find a local guy with hives from captured swarms, you can try this.

I am going to stick with Italians and try to nurse them through the winter. They are gentle and produce huge amounts of honey. If the winter is mild, they make it easily.

Keith

By: Mark B

Mark B — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 00:34:26 +0000

Hive is ready and I’m awaiting opportunity to purchase my first package.

Given there are decades of experience on this site, can you tell me the top five mistakes rookies make and how can I avoid them.

Thanks!

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:38:21 +0000

I have deleted the image

By: Kathy Keatley Garvey

Kathy Keatley Garvey — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 06:11:06 +0000

The Italian honey bee image was taken from my Flickr account at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pho-tog/1373518488/.

By: S. E. Taylor

S. E. Taylor — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 05:40:04 +0000

Here’s where the photo of the Italian bee originated, from someone’s Flickr account. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pho-tog/1373518488/

By: Kathy Keatley Garvey

Kathy Keatley Garvey — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 04:15:04 +0000

It’s a good idea to credit the photos. Your photo of the Italian bee is one I took at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis. Not sure where the others came from.

By: junior helbert

junior helbert — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:06:50 +0000

I HAVE BEEN KEEPING HONEYBEES FOR 30 YEARS I LOST ALL MY NATIVE WILD BEES DUE TO MITES I GOT A PACKAGE OF ALL ‘ AMERICAN ITALIAN BEES FROM R’ WEAVER APIARIES I’VE HAD. THEM FOR 10 YEARS. I DO NOT TREAT THEM FOR MITES

By: Dan Anderson

Dan Anderson — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:02:40 +0000

Walter T. Kelly has Russians the ones I got from them came from “Hardiman’s Apiaries” in Georgia.

By: lubo

lubo — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:19:54 +0000

where you can by russian bees in usa can anybody help

By: Stephen Mantell

Stephen Mantell — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 01:19:29 +0000

I have italian and Carniolan. I started with italian and had some problems with aggressive behavior (they stung the hell out of me and the kids next door). I replaced the queens, still some aggressive behavior, but not so bad now. I started a set of carniolan dowb the road at a farm. Expected them to build a ggod strong hive and also allow me to work them without a suit, no such luck.
Both bees have lost queens of late. Wanting to try and get a strain that is safe to work and safe for the kids next door. Also want a string hive, one I do not have to requeen often, and one that builds and builds.

Regards,
Stephen Mantell from Murrells Inlet SC