This post is in reply to dialogue started for Clayton in December 2000 and in reply to some of his comments posted between 22 Dec - 27 Dec on information I looked up for him.
In conversation, Clayton wants to know how todays black bees are different from the same types written about from about 1888 to 1959, and did they change when they were brought to the US and how?
Reply:
Well, this would probably have to be my opinion here, and will probably start some big disagreements, but basically I would say today's bees are different because they:
1. Have been bred for a more uniform consistant color and specific sizing quite different from when they originally arrived in the USA.
2. They are more prone to disease and parasite attacks due to unreasonable
enlargement placing them out-of-tune with more natural floras for foraging and artificial enlargement of brood combs.
3. They no longer propolize the same, store honey the same, and collect/store pollen the same.(not to say that some still don't do, but many do not).
4. They are shorter lived as queens, in laying ability, having to be replaced on a yearly basis, rather than every 2-3 years.
Clayton wrote pertaining to my posting of characteristics on Carnolian bees,
'I am planning to use three hive bodies per colony to over winter. Split to two bodies to control swarming and the third will be a single for honey production or used as mating nucs. Then recombined for winter. Have any recomendations?'
Reply:
Yes, Clayton. I believe that you will need to have more supers ready for use thanyou are planning.
Clayton wrote further pertaining to Carnolians:
'Also I over winter nucs to have queens for spring; this also culls those that don't cut it. However, regression is my top priority over queen rearing at this point.'
Reply:
This is wise Clayton, to have spares available to take up deadouts. Then you
can dispose of them by either selling to others or combining for use of the
best queens for usage.
You write that 'however, regression is my top priority over queen rearing at
this point.'
For this I must say then, you need to plan to get equipment ready for when your bees are first brooding and whitening combs, to start, so you can gain survivalability first, then go for gaining variability by adding numbers, and finally then start to go into breeding. It will be a three step process, no matter what scale you do it on, I think you will find.
Clayton wrote further pertaining to my posting about Caucasian characteristics:
'Sound like good bees to me. To add to the Carnolian list: 14.also have long
tongue 15.winters well- small populations'
Reply:
Actually, no, do not post this to the end of the Carnolian list.
Caucasian bees have longer tongues than any other race, not Carnolians; Caucasians
also winter well with smaller clusers in size, compared to Carnolians.
Clayton, I noted you saw caucasians and carnolians have quite a few similar
characteristics. This is because they are both black bee type races of northern temperate latitudes and also both cold-weather type bees.
Now before I end. Clayton you wanted to also know about apis mellifera mellifera characteristics. Well a few were noted in the comments while writing about the Carnolian and Caucasian bee characteristics for you. But, for more detailed information here is a good site for your to look at and
read about their characteristics there from the UK.Please reference apis mellifera mellifera characteristics are available at
http://homepage.tinet.ie/~eduard/
I hope you have had a very Merry Christmas and celebrated a great New Year in for 2001.
Best regards to you:
Dee