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Author Topic: Italian / caucasian hybrid?  (Read 1365 times)

Offline charlotte

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Italian / caucasian hybrid?
« on: October 06, 2008, 04:05:25 pm »
Anyone know of a producer that sells italian / caucasian cross package bees?  Or anyone have experience working with this cross?  ...Seems like it could be the best of all worlds- considering production, swarming, winter & mite hardiness, etc.  I am aware of the midnight hybrid- but is there an italian cross equivelent?  Thanks for the input!
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Offline Brian D. Bray

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Re: Italian / caucasian hybrid?
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2008, 08:59:07 pm »
Caucasians were popular back in the 50's & 60's but their popularity died out due to excessive burr comb and swarming tendencies.  Those traits tended to carry over in a hybrid as well, at least in those I had experience with.  The Caucasian were very docile bees but they took a lot of patience and more effort than the Italians.  I would think a Caucasian/Black German bee would be a better hybrid and I believe it is that cross that resulted in the Russian or Carnolian bees. 
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