What Kind of Queen?

WWhathat KKindind OOff QQueen?ueen? Italian, Carniolan, Caucasian, or Russian? Jennifer Berry A Little Background syrup. In the past the Italians were Honey bees were fi rst introduced the reigning monarch in the U.S. but into this country in the early 1600s in recent decades they’ve been chal- by settlers from Europe. The race lenged. The Carniolans along with the of bees that traveled by boat to the Russians are gaining in popularity. Americas was Apis mellifera mellifera, Carniolans, Apis mellifera car- commonly known as the Dark, Ger- nica, are a dark, grey bee that man, or Black bee. The German bee originated in Slovenia. The Carnio- was predominant for decades but lan gained popularity because of its cooler temperatures frames, lids, later lost ground to the imported Ital- gentle disposition and resistance to and inner covers cemented together. ian honey bee because of certain, un- brood diseases. The other advantage Caucasians are also inclined to drift, desirable characteristics. Beekeepers they have over the Italian is their and robbing behavior can be bother- were annoyed with the temperament ability to “flow with the flow.” In some. You won’t fi nd them very often of the German bee. It was defensive, other words they build up quickly in anymore for these reasons. nervous on the comb and would boil the late Winter in time for the Spring The newest arrivals on the scene out of the colony when disturbed. It fl ow then shut down brood produc- are the Russian bees which have was also very susceptible to Euro- tion when nectar and pollen become been growing in popularity over the pean Foul Brood, which swept the scarce. The Carniolans overwinter years. They are a mixed hybrid of Apis country in the early 1900s. Colony in smaller clusters and hence honey mellifera and come from Primorsky losses were severe enough to spark a stores are conserved. The only disad- region of far-eastern Russia. In the move towards the Italian honey bee. vantage is their tendency to swarm mid-1800s settlers brought European Today in the U.S., Apis m. mellifera is more readily when the brood nest bees, perhaps several races in all, to very uncommon and probably doesn’t becomes overcrowded. this area which were already inhab- even exist in its pure form. Sue Cobey’s breeding program ited by the native Indian honey bee, The Italian honey bee, Apis mel- developed the “New World Carniolan.” Apis cerana, the original host of Var- lifera ligustica, is still the dominant Over decades queens in her program roa destructor. It is believed that these player in the bee industry today. have been evaluated and selected initial populations of European honey When you order package bees and for their ability to resist pests and bees became infested with Varroa queens from commercial sources the diseases while still exhibiting impor- and over time developed resistance in bee you more than likely will receive tant traits like overwintering ability, order to survive. Hence Russian bees is the Italian honey bee: aka the gentleness, increased brood and have been exposed to Varroa mites “three banded Italian.” These bees be- honey production. longer than other races of A. mellifera. came popular for numerous reasons. Another western honey bee, the In 1997 Dr. Thomas Rinderer, USDA First, they tend to be a semi gentle Caucasian, Apis mellifera caucasica, Bee Lab Researcher, imported these bee, not overly defensive or nervous originates from the high valleys of bees into North America. In 2007 on the comb. Second, Italians can the Central Caucasus. This is a the Russian Honey bee Breeders As- handle most of the climatic variety geopolitical region located between sociation was formed. The purpose of that the Americas offer. Third, they Europe, Asia and the Middle East. the association “is to maintain and don’t use a tremendous amount of The Caucasian is a race of gentle, propolis and fi nally, swarming is not dark bees that aren’t bothered when on the top of their list. The main com- beekeepers open their hive. They plaint surrounding the Italian honey are slow to expand in the Spring bee is their propensity to produce a but eventually can reach fairly large ton of bees. This is fantastic while populations by mid Summer. They do plants are bearing nectar and pollen have a few negative attributes which but not so much when the blooms is probably what has kept them from have disappeared. Unfortunately, the gaining too much ground. Probably trend to produce wall to wall progeny the most annoying to beekeepers continues into the Summer and Fall. is their tendency to collect and use This equates to more mouths to feed propolis. Over the years beekeepers which in turn means dwindling honey have selected against this trait due to stores which translates to either less the diffi culty it added while working honey removed by the beekeeper or colonies; sticky hive tools, fi ngers, more trips to the apiary to feed sugar or gloves in warm weather while in Battery Box. March 2009 BEE CULTURE 37 March2009.indd 37 2/26/2011 1:39:40 PM Individual out of the envelope and place a few Queen drops of water directly on the screen Cages towards the end where the candy is located. Not too much water, you don’t want to drown them. This will help the nurse bees consume the candy and feed it to the queen. Then place the queen back in the envelope and keep it out of direct sunlight and away from any heat source. If improve the various lines of Russian ure out which queen you want to pur- your queens arrive in a battery box, honey bees through propagation and chase you need to order her sooner lightly squirt water through the wired selective breeding.” than later. By now it’s March. Most opening to hydrate the bees; again The Russian bee is a dark bee early queens are already sold but they not too much. It is also a good idea to that overwinters in small clusters and should be available later in the year. place your queen(s) someplace where can withstand harsh Winter condi- If you prefer to re-queen in the Fall the cat, dog, ferret, gerbil, rabbit, or tions. They are good honey produc- you still have plenty of time. snake will not have access. I’ve heard ers but shut down brood production If you have never received queens numerous stories about the horrible earlier than Italians which is good for in the mail let me give you a few point- demise of queens due to a quick swipe conserving honey stores. Russians ers. Depending on who you purchase of the paw or snap of a jaw. are inclined to build numerous queen your queen from will determine how Before installing a queen it is a cells during the brood season and she arrives. If you are ordering a good idea to remove the attendants. can swarm more readily than some few queens they usually arrive in a Several years ago Wyatt Magnum other bees. sturdy, cardboard, postal envelope conducted research which showed Finally, I’d like to mention the or box. Holes are cut for ventilation acceptance rates increased when Minnesota Hygienic, which isn’t a race and the queens will be in individual queens were introduced without at- of bees but rather a line of queens se- cages (wooden or plastic) inside. If tendants. Removing these attendants lected for a particular trait. Developed you are purchasing a large number can be tricky if you’re not used to by Dr. Marla Spivak at the Univer- of queens they’re usually shipped handling bees/queens. If your queen sity of Minnesota, hygienic bees will in a battery box; a cardboard box is in a wooden cage, both ends will detect, uncap, and remove infected with wired mesh windows. Inside have a cork plug securely in place. or infested brood from the combs. the queens are securely housed in Remove the plug on the end without Bees with this behavior reduce the individual cages. The main differ- the queen candy and let the atten- incidence of diseases like American ence between the two methods is dants out. Preferably you want to foulbrood and limit reproduction and the location of the attendants. In the have the cage in some sort of clear therefore population growth of mites envelope, the attendants are placed bag, queen muff, or veil covering and small hive beetles. These queens inside the cage with the queen. In the because the queen may shoot out of are commercially available. battery box, they’re shook directly the hole and take off fl ying. This can While thumbing through the bee into the box and then sealed. Hence be disturbing when you watch your journals you will notice numerous there are live, free fl ying bees inside newly purchased queen fl y off into ads selling queens. To a new bee- the box but outside the queen cages. the wild blue yonder. If she escapes keeper this can be a bit overwhelm- It’s usually not a good idea to open the cage just carefully grab her by the ing. How do you know which queen is the box inside unless you like buzzing thorax and gently place her head into best for you, or your location? This is bees at windows and lights. The bat- the hole of the cage. She will be grate- when a local mentor comes in handy. tery box is supplied with queen candy ful to return to the cage if it means be- Talk with them or other members in which the attendants consume and ing released from the Giant Fingers.

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