Purists might shudder

[hoodswoods]

I need to requeen one of 2 combined & over-wintered hives that were made up of a 'mutt' nuc' and a 'mutt' package (described by the 2 different sources). One hive was pretty typical of italians (size & color), while the other resembled carniolan - they are a hodge-podge now.

The quickest queens I can get are russians. I'd like some takes (pros & cons) on diversifying strains vs maintaing lineage.

[AmericasBeekeeper]

The hive will become what the queen is. If you want a genetic diversity, you have to buy a "mutt" or Buckfast queen. You could start with a hive of every strain of workers in North America. The queen will only lay what she was mated with. If you get an unmated queen, she knows how to keep incest out of the hive by out-flying the drones in the same hive.

[HONEYDEW]

I have heard it can be a challenge getting non Russian hives to accept Russian queens