The Honey Factory

[duluthralphie]

I have a question for all the beekeepers here. Do you prefer light honey bee queens that are mostly orange or dark honey bee queens that are mostly black?

Huh?

 

[Clearwater Chicken]

Huh?

I mean do you prefer your honey bee queen to have a really bright orange abdomen like an italian or a super dark abdomen like a caucasian

 

[duluthralphie]

I mean do you prefer your honey bee queen to have a really bright orange abdomen like an italian or a super dark abdomen like a caucasian

Ahh..

I guess I could care less as long as she lays eggs like crazy.

 

[Clearwater Chicken]

Ahh..

I guess I could care less as long as she lays eggs like crazy.

layingn eggs is a must but i find darker queens more asthetically pleasing to me

 

[CindyinSD]

It actually looks a lot like this picture except blue.
View attachment 2161989

It does look like she is wearing a magical gemstone.

 

[CindyinSD]

layingn eggs is a must but i find darker queens more asthetically pleasing to me

From what I've read, the Russian bees (black) are more suited to northern climes than others, though they are more aggressive. Just what I've read. Also more resistant to mites due to grooming practices. So, I think I would prefer dark, but that's just from research, not experience.

 

[R2elk]

From what I've read, the Russian bees (black) are more suited to northern climes than others, though they are more aggressive. Just what I've read. Also more resistant to mites due to grooming practices. So, I think I would prefer dark, but that's just from research, not experience.

My research says the Russian bees are more likely to head butt you than they are to sting you.

I can't remember which variety the beautiful really light colored bees are but their traits are to be poor honey producers, hive robbers and prolific brood raisers which is why you see so many of them when you buy a package of bees. They die out and are replaced by the kind the queen produces.

 

[duluthralphie]

My research says the Russian bees are more likely to head butt you than they are to sting you.

I can't remember which variety the beautiful really light colored bees are but their traits are to be poor honey producers, hive robbers and prolific brood raisers which is why you see so many of them when you buy a package of bees. They die out and are replaced by the kind the queen produces.

Which is why I am hoping my blue jeweled Queen will learn to love me.

 

[Clearwater Chicken]

My research says the Russian bees are more likely to head butt you than they are to sting you.

I can't remember which variety the beautiful really light colored bees are but their traits are to be poor honey producers, hive robbers and prolific brood raisers which is why you see so many of them when you buy a package of bees. They die out and are replaced by the kind the queen produces.

hmm that's interesting. my queen is descended from carnolian stock, and her daughter is nearly pure black

 

[R2elk]

hmm that's interesting. my queen is descended from carnolian stock, and her daughter is nearly pure black

Carniolans are a dark bee. They are good at carrying through the winter but my experience is that Carniolans are poor honey producers.