Where is Kentfield?

 

Marin County CA, just north of SF. I live nearby and have caught a lot of local swarms but have no illusion that they are "hybrid". Half of them have marked queens, probably packages that have swarmed from the hives of the large number of new beekeepers in the area. I really doubt there are many "wild" bees in this area.

 

Two years is common for all swarm catches here. Call us when you get five or more years.

 

These bees originated from a neighbors yard where they have existed for many, perhaps 10 years. It appears they are living in the trunk of a bay tree. They are indeed a wild variety and I'm guessing of Russian origin. Almost black in color and extreamly hearty and agressive I might add. With no treatment for mites there was virtually no die off in late September which is typical of carnelians that have mite infestations. The first year I thought I had lost them as well because of late activity in the spring. I was merely inquiring as to another local keeper who would have similar hybrid varieties as a package available. Wendy in Sonoma CA has cross/hybrid Russian packages as I recall.

 

Well I would say that being where there are few incidence of Pure bred bees today in the U.S. They would almost have to be hybrid, However simply because a hive is occupied for over 10 years does not mean that it has been occupied by the same line of bees, dead out, or abandoned hives are often re-inhabited by searching swarms. Giving the impression of continued occupation.

If you like the bees and wish to expand their hive numbers while keeping as much of their traits as you can let them raise a queen for a split. At least you will get a portion of her genes. And the open breeding will introduce the same genetic basis the feral bees probably have.