Queen Color?

[chief]

I just captured a swarm the other day for a 90 year old lady from her cactus garden down by the river. She kept thinking I was getting stung but it was really the cactus sticking me everywhere! She even asked me if I was scared of bees because I was dancing all around from the cactus! Anyway the bees seem to be mutts and are all different colors. There are possibly some commercial hives across the river which is more than a mile wide at this particular point. I have found some feral colonies in trees down in that area by the river as well. So what I am saying is that I donÂ’t know were the bees came from but very well could be feral given the location I retrieved them. The coolest part about this swarm in my opinion is that the queen is jet black. What varieties of bees will have a jet black queen? IÂ’ve had Italians that vary from pure yellow, banded, and a black tip. IÂ’ve had Carniolians that are really dark and some that are banded but most just looked really dark brown. This queen is jet black. Any ideas on what variety this color comes from?

[BjornBee]

carni

My carni breeder last year was jet black. This year I have a carni breeder I purchased and it looks just like the russian breeder. They could be sisters. I know there are sone variations to all the lines, but the darkest bees I have ever seen are from the carni's.

[ May 23, 2006, 03:59 PM: Message edited by: BjornBee ]

[Pugs]

Chief,

If you don't replace the queen with a bought queen, I'd like to buy a split from you where they raise their own queen. I'm trying to get some feral stock from the Northwest. I know, you're a bit drier there than in the Willamette Valley, but hey, I'd like to try them.

Pugs

[chief]

Pugs,

I'll be coming down to the Oregon coast this July near Lincoln City. I'll have to raise some queens from this stock and get you some. I don't know yet what kinds of traits they possess but they do seem to be gentle enough to keep so far. I collected the swarm in Eastern Washington but I brought them home with me to Western Washington. If I raise any queens from this stock they will be open mated with whatever is around here in Western Washington. Perhaps that will give them some of the rain tolerance that you could benefit from. smile.gif

[Pugs]

Chief,

If you do raise some queens I'd like to get a couple from you. Lincoln City is a pleasant drive for me, so great idea.

I'll pm you with me home e-mail address.

Thanks!

Pugs

[SilverFox]

Cheif; Pugs is coming here on the 2 of June if you wanted you could meet at my place and go from there??

[Chef Isaac]

We should all get together.

[Chef Isaac]

Chief:

do you live in Auburn? If so... I know of a few russian beekeepers that way and also there is a guy that lives in a house by the freeway off of 405 who has a lot of bees.

[SilverFox]

WHEN??
I'll be gone the last part of the month.
Back to Browning for the 4 day sweats.

[chief]

Pugs,

I doubt I will be able to come down to see you at GaryÂ’s (SilverFox) place this Friday. I have to work. It sounds fun though. Let me know your schedule just in case I can get free. I will be free Saturday if you are still around. I havenÂ’t started those queens yet from the swarm I caught. I have worked them a couple times and they seem really gentle but they are not to full strength yet. If you would like to chat about it send me your phone number in a PM (or IÂ’ll send you mine if you donÂ’t feel good about sending your phone number out).

Chef Isaac and SilverFox,

I think it would be good to get together sometime. IÂ’ve been to SilverFoxÂ’s place but in the winter so there wasnÂ’t much action just some good ideas shared on his setup and equipment. Chef, did you mention something about a beekeeping meeting you were going to? If so let me in on the details.

Later

[SilverFox]

It's hopping right now, I've got two cut-outs this weekend, one Sat and one SUN going to bee a busy weekend for me, glad I'll have the scaffolding to do both. :D
Had a swarm take over an old hive box (about 5# worth), doesn't look like it came from my hives-the number of bees seem the same and no noiceable swarm cells.
I'll be leaving for Montana around the 13th and won't be back till around the 21st. Our sweats start on the 17th.

[ June 01, 2006, 07:00 PM: Message edited by: SilverFox ]

[chief]

SilverFox,

Where will you be doing the cut-outs? I need to work tomorrow but not all day. Let me know if they are up this way and if you need any help.

Later

[SilverFox]

They're both down here :( ;) , one is in Ethel 30mi se of here. I gave someone in Lakewood your ph# last week. He had a swarm and my mileage rate put him off. He wanted someone closer.