Any beek have these Russell Apiary queens in their apiaries in Alaska or more northern climes in Canada? If so, how do they perform and are they a smaller bee?
I hope to split an Italian hive with 410 queens. Providing the hive survives this winter.
TIA.
Winter here isn't nearly as severe as your -30 winters...this winter so far only a couple weeks w/ subzero lows.
I can tell you this much:
Mine started as splits from local survivors queened w/ 410's.
Since my comb is small cell, My 410's are small bees.
The bees are very frugal with stores. I was out of state in October and was not able to feed these late splits. Mountain camped them in Late Nov/early Dec...bees were healthy and out flying in the 40's, and finding pollen. (or something they thought was pollen)
These bees are in 4 frame nucs, 2 to a divided deep. They are insulated on top, north & east sides & uninsulated on the so & west sides...the location in quite open and windy.
They sure do lay heavily when they lay, and aggressively groom returning foragers for mites.
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