I had Causasian bees over 30 yeasr ago. Their origin were from Canada. No idea how the race has developed during these years.
"Caucasian bees overwinter poorly, build up slowly in spring, are susceptible to Nosema disease and gum up their hives with propolis (tree resins and beeswax). " - so they were. They had about one litre dead bees on bottom after winter. Italians have coffee cup amount.
To sell USA:
http://www.bollingbee.com/index.htm***********************
Good news:
"By their capacity for work Georgian bees are far superior to Italian bees, which was proved more once by subjecting them to special tests. They are matchless in this respect. The reason why the Georgian bees are so widespread lays in their useful economic and morphological characteristics which include high honey and wax productivity, fertility of queen bees, resistance to cold winter, a long proboscis, long wings, peace-loving nature, a weak swarming ability, effective collection of nectar and honey even in the conditions of their scarcity, active defense of nests, an ability to work in foggy and drizzly weather, economical consumption of winter food reserves, cleanness of the nest, immunity to infectious diseases, an ability to pollinate red clover, cohabitation of queen bees and many others. "
Is there any word a truth?
http://www.floretlab.ge/georgianbee.html*****************
And here to everyone everything
http://www.squidoo.com/queen_production/