Mixing races

[Jorge]

I plan to do some splits this spring and supply them with a new fertilized queen.
What are the chances of successfully introducing a, say, russian queen to a split from italians?

Jorge

[BULLSEYE BILL]

It's pretty dark in there, they probably won't notice.

Kidding aside, it doesn't matter as much as the WAY you introduce her.

[Michael Bush]

I've only had problems introducing when I had the really viscious hives and when I've had laying workers.

Generally if they've been queenless for 24 hours they are LOOKING for a queen.

[Robert Brenchley]

Apparently some races produce more queen pheromone than others, making it easier, for instance, to change from Italian to A.m.m. than vice versa. Unless I've got it the wrong way round, of course.

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Regards,

Robert Brenchley

RSBrenchley@aol.com
Birmingham UK

[Rob Mountain]

The only problem I ever really had was introducing an SMR queen into an Italian colony. For some unknown reason, even after 48 hours queenless and numerous atempts, the Italian ladies just didn't want to accept the SMR. Yet SMR into Carniolan was never a hassle.

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If a job is worth doing - Then do it well

[WineMan]

Sometimes queens that you buy seem to be accepted just perfectly. Sometimes its just the opposite. I suspect there are tons of factors that we overlook from weather, to brood cycles to how hard they were handled in the mail. For example last year, the first batch of queens i got only lost two queens. One week later, only 4 of 25 were accepted. Long run average is about 21 of 25. then again maybe they just dont like me.

Secondly, if you happen to pay real close attention to them, you will also notice that in some cases they are quickly accepted and just as quickly superceded once a couple brood cycles go by. that also goes hand in hand with my thoughts that only about one of four new queens is worthy of not being squashed in a year.

There seems to be alot of opinion on russian acceptance. From what I have heard, tom Glenn has done a fair amount of research that indicates the queens have different pheremone levels and are most easily accepted (by non russians) later in the year. i for one have had much below average acceptance of them.